Common Twayblade - Neottia ovata

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Alternative names
Twayblade, Listera ovata
Description

Short to medium, rhizomatous plant, stem erect, hairy above. Leaves only 2 oval, low down at the base of the stem, dull green, prominently ribbed. Flowers small, numerous in slender spike-like raceme with tiny bracts, stalked yellowish green 7 to 15 mm pendant, notched at the end, spurless.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodland and marshy ground.

When to see it

May to July.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Fairly frequent throughout Britain though never common.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 52 of the 617 tetrads.

  • AJ Cann
    Ketton Quarry
    21 June 2015
  • Rod Baker
    Ketton
    18 June 2013
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    26 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    26 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    13 June 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    26 May 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Leire, Jubilee Walk (Disused Railway)
    25 April 2007
  • Craig Mabbett
    Dismantled Railway Near A426 Lutterworth Road
    03 May 2018

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Common Twayblade
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Orchidaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
33
First record:
25/04/2007 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
15/06/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Jubilee Walk, Leire
    17 May 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Ketton Quarry
    30 June 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Jubilee Walk, Leire
    17 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    26 May 2012
  • Ron.stevens
    Ketton Quarry NR
    30 June 2011
  • AJ Cann
    Ketton Quarry
    21 June 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Jubilee Walk, Leire
    13 May 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Jubilee Walk Leire
    19 May 2013
  • AJ Cann
    Ketton Quarry
    21 June 2015
  • AJ Cann
    Ketton Quarry
    21 June 2015