Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich. - syn.Habenaria bifolia (L.) R. Br.; Orchis bifolia L. - Orchidaceae \\
lesser butterfly-orchid, **Zweiblättrige Waldhyazinthe**

Orchid, up to 40cm tall, native to Europe, West Asia and North Africa; stem erect, 2-leaved; leaves basal, subopposite, spatulate-elliptic, oblong, or elliptic; flowers fragrant, white, greenish white, or green. \\
[[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=220010576]]

"Variation in scent chemistry of both Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha was considerable: different scent chemotypes were found among individuals as well as populations. Mainly linalool, lilac aldehydes and alcohols, geraniol, and methyl benzoate distinguished the chemotypes." \\
[Fragrance chemotypes of Platanthera (Orchidaceae)‐the result of adaptation to pollinating moths?., Tollsten, L., Bergström, L. G., Nordic Journal of Botany, Vol.13(6), 1993, 607-613]

|{{:linalool.jpg| linalool}} \\ linalool |{{:lilac_aldehydes.jpg|}} \\ lilac aldehydes |{{:lilac_alcohols.jpg|}} \\ lilac alcohols |{{:benzoate.jpg|}} \\ methyl benzoate (R=Me)|{{:methylsalicylat.jpg| methyl salicylate }} \\ methyl salicylate | 

"Although the German popular name 'Waldhyacinthe' (wood hyacinth) and many literature sources ascribe a hyacinth-like scent to this orchid, it is more reminescent of certain lily nd honeysuckle species and, in very general terms, posesses a basic scent concept of the 'white-floral' type." \\
This scent is mainly attributable to linalool (18.8% of the headspace), methyl benzoate (58.0%) and methyl salicylate (2.4%), with special significance ascribed to the trace components like lilac aldehydes, lilac alcohols and their acetates, cinnamic aldehyde, geraniol, eugenol and vanillin. \\
[Roman Kaiser, The scent of orchids: olfactory and chemical investigations., Basel 1993, 177-179 and 240-241]

Electrophysiologically active compounds from P. bifolia flowers are benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, cinnamyl alcohol, lilac aldehydes, methyl benzoate and methyl salicylate. \\
[Volatiles from flowers of Platanthera bifolia (Orchidaceae) attractive to the silver Y moth, Autographa gamma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)., Plepys, D., Ibarra, F., Löfstedt, C., Oikos, Vol.99(1), 2002, 69-74]

Flowers of P.bifolia subsp. osca from Italy were characterized by the absence of perceptible volatile emissions during the day while in the night a strong and pronounced aroma was developed. Main components of the flower scent of four samples of P. bifolia subsp. osca collected (DVB/CAR/PDMS) at Pignola were lilac aldehydes (3.6-13.6%) and lilac alcohols (25.0-61.5%), linalool (0-10%) and alkanes. Platanthera bifolia subsp. osca sample collected at Grisolia showed as main components linalool (17.8%), benzyl benzoate (55.8%), and benzyl salicylate (6.7%). Benzyl benzoate (74.7%), methyl benzoate (9.0%), geraniol (4.0%), and benzyl salicylate (3.2%) were the main volatiles of P. bifolia subsp. osca collected at Palena.  \\
[D'Auria, Maurizio, et al. "Fragrance components of Platanthera bifolia subsp. osca and Platanthera chlorantha collected in several sites in Italy." Natural product research 34.19 (2020): 2857-2861] [[https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Fragrance_components_of_i_Platanthera_bifolia_i_subsp_i_osca_i_and_i_Platanthera_chlorantha_i_collected_in_several_sites_in_Italy/7929362/files/14753675.pdf|PDF]]

{{platanthera_b.jpg?600}} \\
Platanthera bifolia, Lindman, C.A.M., Bilder ur Nordens Flora, vol.2 t.406 (1922-1926) \\
[[http://www.plantillustrations.org/species.php?id_species=805291]]

{{http://www.botanische-spaziergaenge.at/Bilder/Konica_2/PICT7646.JPG}} \\
Platanthera bifolia \\ © Rolf Marschner (2006),  
[[http://botanische-spaziergaenge.at/viewtopic.php?f=520&t=2972| www.botanische-spaziergaenge.at]]