Why call a purple orchid green-winged? If you look closely at the blossoms, you will see that the side petals ('the wings') have green stripes. This orchid is also known as the green-veined orchid. The green-winged orchid grows mostly in damp, calcium-rich, scanty hay fields and is legally protected. The flower stalk consists of 5-25 loosely grouped helmet-shaped flowers. It often grows together with yellow-rattle. The unusual association of green-winged orchid and yellow-rattle is probably not found outside of the Netherlands.