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

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

From Literature

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From Literature