| 1. | an epiphytic South American orchid, Oncidium papilio, having large yellow and reddish-brown flowers. |
| 2. | either of two terrestrial Old World orchids, Habenaria chlorantha or H. bifolia, having long clusters of greenish-white flowers. |
| butterfly orchid n. Any of certain orchids, including Epidendrum tampense of Florida, Habenaria psycodes of eastern North America, and Oncidium krameranum and O. pupilio of tropical America, having showy, brightly colored flowers. |
butterfly orchid
any plant of the genus Platanthera (or Habenaria), family Orchidaceae, which has about 100 species native to Eurasia, North Africa, and North and Central America. "Butterfly orchid" is also the common name for a species of the genus Psychopsis.
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