The mignonette (Habenaria floribunda Lindley) is a common terrestrial species found on the floor of open forests and along the edges of swamps and cypress domes. The plant seems to prefer areas carpeted with a thick mulch of leaves or beds of sphagnum moss.

When seen in the wild, the mignonette usually has few other herbaceous plants nearby competing for resources. No references could be found as to whether this orchid has any allelopathic (secondary chemicals that exclude other plants) abilities or it simply grows where other plants do poorly.

The French common name is in reference to the dainty flowers and is much nicer than the American name, toothpetal false reinorchid. The mignonette has been slapped with at least seven botanical names; two different ones by the same 'authority'.

The mignonette grows from an ovoid tuber and reproduces both by seed and growing additional tubers at the tips of roots. The plants form colonies when left undisturbed. The yellow-green flowers have a long spur and produce a pungent odor at night. The pollinators are thought to be male mosquitoes, but considering the length of the spur, the plant might also attract moths.