Liparis loeselii

Liparis loeselii, the fen orchid, yellow widelip orchid, or bog twayblade, is a rare species of orchid. It is native to Europe, northern Asia, the eastern United States, and eastern Canada. It grows in fens, bogs and dune slacks. It has yellow flowers and glossy yellow-green leaves.

It only grows to 5-20 centimetres. The lower part of the stem is surrounded by 2-3 relatively large light green, fatty leaves, tongue-like in appearance. Under these, a few inconspicuous small leaves can be found. The yellow-green flowers are normally numbered between 5-10. Sometimes only 1-2 flowers can be found, at most 30.

Small specimens which do not carry flowers can sometimes be confused with Malaxis monophyllos and Hammarbya paludosa which can be found in the same milieu.

The species was named for German botanist Johannes Loesel.

Subspecies

1. Liparis loeselii subsp. loeselii - Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, United States
2. Liparis loeselii subsp. orientalis Efimov - Altay region of Russia
3. Liparis loeselii subsp. sachalinensis (Nakai) Efimov - Sakhalin Island in Russia