Although very difficult to find, once uncovered this tiny orchid with its distinctive shiny brown flowers and pair of opposite-facing heart-shaped leaves cannot be confused with any other species. Its range is mainly restricted to the northerly parts of Britain and Ireland with only one or two sites in the south, including Ceredigion in Wales and on Exmoor in Devon and Somerset. Lesser Twayblade occurs in two distinct habitats that share a common condition: shady, moist ground. On wet moorland and peat bogs it nestles under straggly heather and bilberry bushes, often growing on mosses - particularly sphagnum moss. In shady woodlands these orchids grow on moss under heathers and bracken. The peak flowering time is from mid-May until mid-July, but it can sometimes appear as early as the end of April. Close examination of the plant reveals delightful tiny star-shaped flowers, but persistance is required to find them. Where one plant is discovered there are often others very close by; however, they may not be flowering, which makes spotting them even trickier. In Europe Lesser Twayblade occurs from Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland in the north to as far south as northern Italy and Greece.

Distribution Map		Key Features
	Records for the Lesser Twayblade from BSBI are shown on the map with most recent in front. (Hover the mouse over the small map to expand it.) CLICK HERE to visit the BSBI website page for updated data and maps with separated data for individual record periods.	Plant: 3 to 25cm in height, but usually 10 to 15cm - taller in shaded woodland; stem green or reddish-purple and ridged towards the tip. Leaves: 2 dark shiny heart-shaped leaves about one third of the way up the stem. Bracts: greenish, triangular and very small. Flowers: between 3 and 20 on an open inflorescence; colour variable from green (sometimes overall) to reddish-brown.

Image Gallery for Lesser Twayblade Neottia cordata