Definition of Butterfly orchid

1. Noun. Any orchid of the genus Psychopsis: spectacular large tiger-striped orchids.


2. Noun. Any orchid of the genus Oncidium: characterized by slender branching sprays of small yellow and brown flowers; often grown as houseplants.
Exact synonyms: Butterfly Plant, Dancing Lady Orchid, Oncidium
Generic synonyms: Orchid, Orchidaceous Plant
Group relationships: Genus Oncidium

3. Noun. Mexican epiphytic orchid having pale green or yellow-green flowers with white purple-veined lip.

4. Noun. Orchid of Florida and the Bahamas having showy brightly colored flowers; sometimes placed in genus Epidendrum.
Exact synonyms: Encyclia Tampensis, Epidendrum Tampense
Generic synonyms: Orchid, Orchidaceous Plant
Group relationships: Encyclia, Genus Encyclia

5. Noun. Mediterranean orchid having usually purple flowers with a fan-shaped spotted or striped rose-red lip.
Exact synonyms: Butterfly Orchis, Orchis Papilionaceae
Generic synonyms: Orchis

Literary usage of Butterfly orchid

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Amateur Orchid Cultivators' Guide Book by H. A. Burberry (1900)
"This Orchid is known principally on account of its remarkable resemblance to the butterfly, hence its name butterfly orchid, and can be grown either on a ..."

2. Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin by Missouri botanical garden (1913)
"Oncidium Papilio, a native of South America, is easily recognized as the butterfly orchid, the antennae being represented by the thread-like sepals, ..."

3. The English Illustrated Magazine (1893)
"... a few months ago at a sale of orchids in Cheap- side for the auction price of fifty guineas. It is very rare in itsown coun- THE butterfly orchid. ..."

4. Annual Report of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society by Wisconsin State Horticultural Society (1890)
"... duke of Devonshire saw the butterfly orchid from Demerara in flower at a London exhibition, that the orchid culture commenced in earnest among amatuers. ..."

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