Lesser twayblade

Lesser twayblade is a small-sized orchid. On the bottom of its delicate stem it has two broadly heart-shaped leaves growing opposite to each other. Lesser twayblade blooms in June-August and its inflorescens is a short and sparse spike. Its flowers are brownish or reddish green and they smell unpleasant. Lesser twayblade spreads with seeds as well as with its creeping rhizome.

Lesser twayblade thrives in moist and paludifying spruce forests, spruce mires, herb-rich forests and stream sides. Its area of distribution stretches throughout the northern boreal zone.

The pollinators of lesser twayblade are mushroom flies and dark-winged fungus gnats.

Lesser twayblade benefits of the preservation and conservation of wet forest sites. Though the species disappears with forest regeneration, it comes back when the forest has shady and moist micro-climate again.