| Noun | 1. | genus Platanthera - herbaceous terrestrial orchids of temperate northern and southern hemispheres liliopsid genus, monocot genus - genus of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seed family Orchidaceae, orchid family, Orchidaceae - enormous cosmopolitan family of perennial terrestrial or epiphytic plants with fleshy tubers or rootstocks and unusual flowers Habenaria bifolia, lesser butterfly orchid, Platanthera bifolia - south European orchid having fragrant greenish-white flowers; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria greater butterfly orchid, Habenaria chlorantha, Platanthera chlorantha - south European orchid with dark green flowers that are larger and less fragrant than Platanthera bifolia; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria |