''Epipactis'', or helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species. This genus is abbreviated as Epcts in horticultural trade.
Description
Their creeping, fleshy
rhizomes grow offshoots, from which then emerge the 20–70 cm long stems during the next spring.
There are four to eight alternate, lanceolate
leaves, that grow progressively shorter near the top. The margins are entire, the top is acute. Species with less
chlorophyll have blue-purple leaves.
Their bilaterally symmetrical colorful
flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s grow from a terminal raceme. The three
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...
s and the two lateral
petals are ovate and acuminate. Their color can vary from greenish-white to violet and purple.
The
lip
The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ, and can be ...
is divided in a bowl-shaped hypochile, with the outer surface greenish-white and threaded with dark veins. The wavy, snow-white epichile is fan-shaped.
The
ovary is inferior. It produces a dry
capsule with countless minute
seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
s.
Chemistry
As is characteristic of all orchids, ''Epipactis'' spp. are dependent on a
mycorrhizal
symbiosis (see also
Orchid mycorrhiza Orchid mycorrhizae are endomycorrhizal fungi which develop symbiotic relationships with the roots and seeds of plants of the family Orchidaceae. Nearly all orchids are myco-heterotrophic at some point in their life cycle. Orchid mycorrhizae are cr ...
). This allows some species to have reduced leaves and need little chlorophyll. Violet helleborine (''Epipactis viridiflora'') can even do without chlorophyll. These forms can be recognized by their purple instead of violet flowers.
Habitat
The species occur in temperate and subtropical climates of
America,
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
, and
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
. These orchids grow in open spaces in forests, in undergrowth, on calcareous soils and are often found in wet dune-slacks near the sea. The only original American species is the giant helleborine (''
Epipactis gigantea''). One species from Europe, broad-leaved helleborine (''
Epipactis helleborine''), is invasive in
North America. Most species are protected.
Most of these hardy orchids grow in a wet environment, but there are exceptions. The marsh helleborine (''
Epipactis palustris'') is the only European orchid able to survive in a flooded habitat. ''
Epipactis gigantea'' is a species found in the American west, and into southern
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, in wet areas and even streams. It can grow to a height of 1 m. However, ''
Epipactis helleborine'' grows in more diverse habitats, from sheltered sandy beaches to open spaces in deciduous or coniferous forests, on roadsides, in meadows, and on moist soils. It is sometimes called the weed orchid.
Species
*''
Epipactis africana'' (Ethiopia to Malawi)
*''
Epipactis albensis
''Epipactis'', or helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species. This genus is abbreviated as Epcts in horticultural trade.
Description
Their creeping, fleshy rhizomes grow offshoots, from which then em ...
'' (C. Europe)
**''Epipactis albensis'' var. ''albensis'' (EC. Europe). Rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis albensis'' var. ''fibri'' (France). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis aspromontana'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''aspromontana''
(Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis atromarginata
''Epipactis'', or helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species. This genus is abbreviated as Epcts in horticultural trade.
Description
Their creeping, fleshy rhizomes grow offshoots, from which then em ...
'' (Vietnam)
*''
Epipactis atrorubens
''Epipactis atrorubens'', the dark-red helleborine or royal helleborine, is an herbaceous plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae.
As with many other species of orchids, the species is legally protected in some countries. Plantlife designated the ...
''
(Hoffm.) Besser : dark red helleborine, royal helleborine (Europe to Caucasus)
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''atrorubens''
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''atrata''
A.Waldner & Webernd (Austria)
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''danubialis''
(Robatsch & Rydlo) Ciocârlan & R.Rösler
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''spiridonovii''
(Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''subclausa''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''triploidea''
(Gelbr. & G.Hamel) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis autumnalis
''Epipactis'', or helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species. This genus is abbreviated as Epcts in horticultural trade.
Description
Their creeping, fleshy rhizomes grow offshoots, from which then eme ...
''
D.Doro (Italy)
*''
Epipactis baumanniorum''
Ströhle
*''Epipactis bithynica'' (Turkey) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''bithynica'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis bugacensis'' (Hungary, near
Bugacpusztaháza
Bugacpusztaháza is a village and municipality in Bács-Kiskun county, in the Southern Great Plain region of southern Hungary.
Geography
It covers an area of and has a population
Population typically refers to the number of people in a ...
)
*''
Epipactis campeadorii'' (Spain)
*''
Epipactis cardina'' (Spain)
*''
Epipactis condensata'' (Turkey to Lebanon, Cyprus, W. Transcaucasus)
*''
Epipactis cretica'' (Crete)
*''Epipactis danubialis'' (Romania) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''danubialis''
(Robatsch & Rydlo) Ciocârlan & R.Rösler
*''Epipactis degenii'' (Greece) - now synonym of ''Epipactis halacsyi'' subsp. ''degenii'' (
Szentp. & Mónus) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis distans''
Arvet-Touvet (Central Europe)
*''
Epipactis dunensis'' (Great Britain: N. England to N. Wales)
*''Epipactis duriensis''
Bernardos, et al. (Portugal) - now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' var. ''duriensis''
(Bernardos, D.Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich) P.Delforge
*''Epipactis exilis''
P.Delforge - now a synonym of ''Epipactis persica'' subsp. ''exilis''
(P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''Epipactis flaminia'' (EC. Europe) - now synonym of ''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''flaminia''
(P.R.Savelli & Aless.) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis flava'' (Laos, Thailand).
*''Epipactis futakii'' (EC. Europe) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''futakii''
(Mered'a & Potek) P.Delforge
*''
Epipactis gigantea'' : stream orchid, chatterbox, giant helleborine (W. Canada to N. Mexico).
*''
Epipactis greuteri''
H.Baumann & Künkele (Greece).
**''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''flaminia''
(P.R.Savelli & Aless.) Kreutz
**''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''preinensis''
(Seiser) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis greuteri'' subsp. ''preinensis'' (Austria)
*''
Epipactis guegelii'' (Romania)
*''Epipactis halacsyi''
Robatsch (Greece) - now basionym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''halacsyi''
**''Epipactis halacsyi'' subsp. ''degenii''
(Szentp. & Mónus) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis helleborine''
(L.) Crantz : broad-leaved helleborine (N. Africa, Europe to C. China, Type species).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''bithynica''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''helleborine'' (N. Africa, Europe to C. China).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''latina'' (Italy to NW. Balkan Pen).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''leutei''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''minor''
R.Engel (France)
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''molochina''
(P.Delforge) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''neerlandica'' (W. Europe).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''orbicularis'' (C. Europe) synonym of ''Epipactis distans''
Arvet-Touvet
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''schubertiorum''
(Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''transcaucasica'' (Caucasus). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''tremolsii'' (W. Medit.) Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''youngiana''
(A.J.Richards & A.F.Porter) Kreutz
*''Epipactis ioessa''
Bongiorni, De Vivo, Fori & Romolini (Italy)
*''
Epipactis kleinii'' (S. France to E. Spain)
*''Epipactis komoricensis'' (EC. Europe) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''komoricensis''
(Mered'a) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis lapidocampi''
E.Klein & Laminger (Austria)
*''Epipactis latifolia''
All., nom. illeg. (synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'')
**''Epipactis latifolia'' lus. rosea
Erdner - now synonym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''rosea''
(Erdner) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis leptochila''
(Godfery) Godfery : narrow-lipped helleborine (Europe).
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''aspromontana''
(Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''cleistogama''
(C.Thomas) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''dinarica''
(S.Hertel & Riech.) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''futakii''
(Mered'a & Potek) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''komoricensis''
(Mered'a) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''leptochila'' (Europe)
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''maestrazgona''
(P.Delforge & Gévaudan) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''naousaensis''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''neglecta'' (WC. Europe). Hemicryptophyte or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''peitzii''
(H.Neumann & Wucherpf.) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''sancta''
(P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''Epipactis leutei'' (Austria) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''leutei''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis liestalensis'' (C. Europe).
*''Epipactis lusitanica'' (S. and N. Portugal)- now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''lusitanica''
(D.Tyteca) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis maestrazgona'' P.Delforge & Gévaudan (Spain)
*''
Epipactis magnibracteata'' (NC. China)
*''
Epipactis mairei'' (Nepal to C. China)
*''
Epipactis maricae'' (Campania, Italy
*''Epipactis mecsekensis'' (Hungary) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''mecsekensis''
(A.Molnár & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis meridionalis''
H.Baumann & R.Lorenz (Sicilia to S. Italy)
*''
Epipactis microphylla'' (Europe to Iran)
*''
Epipactis molochina'' P.Delforge (Spain)
*''Epipactis moravica''
Batousek (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''moravica''
(Batousek) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis muelleri'' (W. & C. Europe).
**''Epipactis muelleri'' subsp. ''cerritae'' (Sicilia). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis muelleri'' subsp. ''muelleri'' (W. & C. Europe) Rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis nauosaensis'' (Greece) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''naousaensis''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis nordeniorum''
Robatsch (Austria)
**''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''mecsekensis''
(A.Molnár & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''moravica''
(Batousek) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis ohwii'' (C. Taiwan)
*''
Epipactis olympica'' (Greece)
*''
Epipactis palustris'' : marsh helleborine, marsh orchid (Europe to Caucasus and Mongolia)
*''
Epipactis papillosa'' (Russian Far East to Korea,
Japan)
*''
Epipactis persica''
(Soó) Nannf. (SE. Europe to W. Pakistan)
**''Epipactis persica'' subsp. ''exilis''
(P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis phyllanthes
''Epipactis phyllanthes'', the green-flowered helleborine, is an orchid found in the western Palearctic realm.
Distribution
It is native to Andorra, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, Britain, Ireland, Germany and Denmark.
Habitat
Its habita ...
''
G.E.Sm. : green-flowered helleborine (W. & NW. Europe).
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' subsp. ''fageticola''
(C.E.Hermos.) Kreutz
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' var. ''olarionensis'' (France). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' var. ''phyllanthes'' (W. & NW. Europe)
*''
Epipactis placentina'' (Switzerland to Italy).
*''Epipactis pollinensis'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''pollinensis''
(B.Baumann & H.Baumann) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis pontica'' (EC. Europe to N. Turkey)
*''
Epipactis provincialis'' (France)
*''
Epipactis pseudopurpurata'' (Slovakia) - ''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pseudopurpurata''
(Mered'a) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis purpurata''
*''
Epipactis rechingeri'' (N. Iran)
*''
Epipactis rhodanensis'' (France to Austria)
*''
Epipactis robatschiana''
Bartolo, D'Emerico, Pulv., Terrasi & Stuto (Italy)
*''
Epipactis royleana'' (E. Afghanistan to Himalaya)
*''
Epipactis sancta'':
Lindisfarne helleborine
*''Epipactis schubertiorum'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''schubertiorum''
(Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis spiridonovii'' (Bulgaria) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''spiridonovii''
(Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis stellifera'' (Switzerland)
*''Epipactis subclausa'' (Greece) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''subclausa''
(Robatsch) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis tallosii'' (Slovakia, Hungary)
*''
Epipactis tenii'' (China)
*''
Epipactis thessala'' (N. & C. Greece)
*''
Epipactis thunbergii'' (S. Russian Far East to Korea, Japan to Nansei-shoto)
*''
Epipactis tremolsii''
Pau
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''densifolia''
(W.Hahn, Passin & R.Wegener) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' var. ''duriensis''
(Bernardos, D.Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''heraclea''
(P.Delforge & Kreutz) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''lusitanica''
(D.Tyteca) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''turcica''
(Kreutz) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis troodi'' (Cyprus, Turkey )
*''Epipactis turcica'' (E. Aegean Is. to Turkey) - now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''turcica''
(Kreutz) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis turcomanica'' (C. Asia)
*''
Epipactis ulugurica'' (Tanzania)
*''
Epipactis veratrifolia'' : scarce marsh helleborine (Caucasus to Somalia and SC. China)
*''
Epipactis viridiflora''
(Hoffm.) Krock: clustered helleborine, violet helleborine (Europe)
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''halacsyi''
(Robatsch) B.Baumann & H.Baumann (Greece)
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pollinensis''
(B.Baumann & H.Baumann) B.Baumann & H.Baumann (Italy)
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pseudopurpurata''
(Mered'a) Kreutz
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''rosea''
(Erdner) Kreutz
*''
Epipactis xanthophaea'' (China)
*''Epipactis youngiana'' : Young's helleborine (Great Britain) - now synonym of
''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''youngiana'' (A.J.Richards & A.F.Porter) Kreutz
Hybrids
*''Epipactis × amigoi'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. kleinii'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × barlae'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. microphylla'') (C. Europe).
*''Epipactis × barreana'' (''E. latina'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Italy).
*''Epipactis × breinerorum'' (''E. helleborine'' subsp. ''helleborine'' × ''E. greuteri'') (EC. Europe).
*''Epipactis × bruxellensis'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. phyllanthes'') (W. Europe).
*''Epipactis × capellonensis'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. latina'') (Italy).
*''Epipactis × cardonneae'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. kleinii'') (W. Europe).
*''Epipactis × conquensis'' (''E. cardina'' × ''E. kleinii'') (Spain).
*''Epipactis × gerbaudiorum'' (''E. provincialis'' × ''E. tremolsii'') (France)
*''Epipactis × gevaudanii'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. rhodanensis'') (France).
*''Epipactis × graberi'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. microphylla'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × heterogama'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis x nicolosii'' M.P.Grasso & Grillo (. (E. helleborine (L.) Crantz x E. meridionalis H.Baumann & R.Lorenz) (Sicilia)
*''Epipactis × populetorum'' ( ''E. helleborine'' × ''E. hispanica'') (Spain).
*''Epipactis × pupplingensis'' ( ''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. palustris'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × reinekei'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × robatschii'' Gévaudan & P.Delforge (''E. bugacensis'' Robatsch x ''E. atrorubens'' (Hoffm.) Besser subvar. ''borbasii'' )
*''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. helleborine'') (Europe).
**''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' nothosubsp. ''fleischmannii'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. helleborine'' subsp. ''orbicularis'') (Europe). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' nothosubsp. ''schmalhausenii'' (Europe). Rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis × schulzei'' (Europe).
*''Epipactis × soguksuensis''(''E. helleborine'' × ''E. turcica'') (Turkey).
*''Epipactis × stephensonii'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. leptochila'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × trikalana'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. thessala'') (Greece).
*''Epipactis × vermionensis'' (''E. gracilis'' × ''E. helleborine'') (Greece).
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q161844
Neottieae genera
Terrestrial orchids