Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Orchis bifolia in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 939.
today: The current name for this species is Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich.
original Latin description
Orchis bulbis indivisis, nectarii labio lanceolato integerrimo: cornu longissimo, petalis patentibus.
English translation
Orchis with bulbs undivided; of the nectary with a lip lanceolate [and] entire: with a horn very long; [and] with petals spreading.
| Orchis | Orchis |
| with bulbs | bulbis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun bulbus, -i |
| undivided; | indivisis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective indivisus, -a, -um; modifies bulbis |
| of the nectary | nectarii - genitive singular of second declension neuter noun nectarium, -i |
| with a lip | labio - ablative singular of second declension neuter noun labium, -i |
| lanceolate | lanceolato - ablative singular neuter of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um; modifies labio |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| entire: | integerrimo - ablative singular neuter of group A adjective integerrimus, -a, -um; modifies labio |
| with a horn | cornu - ablative singular of fourth declension noun cornus, cornu |
| very long; | longissimo - ablative singular neuter of superlative degree of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um; modifies cornu |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with the petals | petalis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun petalum, -i |
| spreading. | patentibus - ablative plural of present active participle of second conjugation verb pateo, patere, patui, —; modifies petalis |