Japanese Myrmechis

Family Orchidaceae. Occurs in Japan.

A small plant, 3–8 cm tall, with stems creeping at the base, the upper stems with scattered white curly hairs. Leaves 5–7, broadly ovate, up to 1.2 cm long and 0.8 cm wide, with petioles up to 1 cm. Flowers 1–3, white, fragrant, up to 7 mm long. The lip is somewhat larger than the other perianth segments, swollen at the base, expanded at the tip, without a spur. Fruit — a straight sessile capsule. Flowers in August, fruits in October. Propagated by seeds. A rare plant threatened with extinction; its population is declining due to logging.