Cephalanthera longifolia

This Cephalanthera orchid is remarkable mainly for the vastness of its natural habitat . It somewhat resembles the species Cephalanthera damasonium in appearance ,but cannot be mistaken for it ,since the thin ,narrow ,elongated leaves of Cephalanthera longifolia ,usually arranged in two rows ,reach lengths of 6.4 in/16 cm. Its flowers are snow-white . The species grows mostly in the semi-shade of light sparse forests and on the grassy edges of denser forests . Flowers appear on it ,depedning on the climate of the station,between April and July . The plant is known to grow in atleast 40 countries -reports of its occurence have come from Europe and an area bordered by Asia Minor ,Caucasia,Persia and western Himalayas .