butterfly orchid

noun

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterfly orchid¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

She bends to her special beauty, the butterfly orchid she smuggled back from Hawaii two years ago.

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Half the UK's greater butterfly orchids have been lost in the last 50 years.

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The others are intermediate wintergreen, lesser butterfly orchid and small cow-wheat.

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When she calms herself she finds she has snipped her prize butterfly orchid.

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