Epipactis
Encyclopedia
Epipactis, or Helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species. This genus is abbreviated as Epcts in horticultural trade.
They occur in temperate and subtropical climates of America
, Asia
, and Europe
. 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 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
, 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.
As characteristic of all orchids, Epipactis spp. are dependent on a mycorrhiza
l symbiosis
(see also Orchid mycorrhiza
). 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.
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
s grow from a terminal raceme. The three sepal
s and the two lateral petal
s are ovate and acuminate. Their color can vary from greenish-white to violet and purple.
The lip
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
s.
They occur in temperate and subtropical climates of America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. 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 Giant Helleborine (Epipactis gigantea
Epipactis gigantea
Epipactis gigantea is a species of orchid known by the common names stream orchid and giant helleborine. This wildflower is native to western North America from western Canada to central Mexico...
). One species from Europe, Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine is a European orchid that has been introduced to several regions of North America. Its nodding flowers vary from greenish pink to purple, and it prefers shaded woodland environments. More information on this species and others of the genus are at Epipactis.-External links:*...
), is invasive in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Most species are protected.
Epipactis palustris
Epipactis palustris is an orchid. An example occurrence of this species is in the Sarmatic mixed forests ecoregion. -References:* C.Michael Hogan. 2011....
) is the only European orchid able to survive in a flooded habitat. Epipactis gigantea
Epipactis gigantea
Epipactis gigantea is a species of orchid known by the common names stream orchid and giant helleborine. This wildflower is native to western North America from western Canada to central Mexico...
is a species found in the American west, and into southern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in wet areas and even streams. It can grow to a height of 1 m. However, Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine is a European orchid that has been introduced to several regions of North America. Its nodding flowers vary from greenish pink to purple, and it prefers shaded woodland environments. More information on this species and others of the genus are at Epipactis.-External links:*...
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.
As characteristic of all orchids, Epipactis spp. are dependent on a mycorrhiza
Mycorrhiza
A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant....
l symbiosis
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is close and often long-term interaction between different biological species. In 1877 Bennett used the word symbiosis to describe the mutualistic relationship in lichens...
(see also Orchid mycorrhiza
Orchid mycorrhiza
Orchid mycorrhizae are symbiotic relationships between the roots of plants of the family Orchidaceae and a variety of fungi. All orchids are myco-heterotrophic at some point in their life cycle. Orchid mycorrhizae are critically important during orchid germination, as orchid seed has virtually no...
). 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.
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
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, that grow progressively shorter near the top. The margins are entire, the top is acute. Species with less chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
have blue-purple leaves.
Their bilaterally symmetrical colorful flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s grow from a terminal raceme. The three sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and the two lateral petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s are ovate and acuminate. Their color can vary from greenish-white to violet and purple.
The lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
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
Ovary (plants)
In the flowering plants, an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovule and is located above or below or at the point of connection with the base of the petals and sepals...
is inferior. It produces a dry capsule
Capsule (fruit)
In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a structure composed of two or more carpels that in most cases is dehiscent, i.e. at maturity, it splits apart to release the seeds within. A few capsules are indehiscent, for example...
with countless minute seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s.
Species
- Epipactis africana (Ethiopia to Malawi).
- Epipactis albensis (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 (Vietnam).
- Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm.) Besser : Dark Red Helleborine, Royal Helleborine (Europe to Caucasus).
- Epipactis atrorubens var. atrorubens
- Epipactis atrorubens var. atrata A.Waldner & Webernd (2005)(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 D. Doro (Italy)
- Epipactis baumanniorum Ströhle
- Epipactis bithynica (Turkey) - now synonym of Epipactis helleborine subsp. bithynica (Robatsch) Kreutz
- Epipactis bugacensis (Hungary).
- 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 distansEpipactis distansEpipactis distans is a species of orchid....
Arvet-Touvet (Central Europe) - Epipactis dunensis (Great Britain: N. England to N. Wales).
- Epipactis duriensis Bernardos, D.Tyteca (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) - 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 giganteaEpipactis giganteaEpipactis gigantea is a species of orchid known by the common names stream orchid and giant helleborine. This wildflower is native to western North America from western Canada to central Mexico...
: 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 helleborineEpipactis helleborineEpipactis helleborine is a European orchid that has been introduced to several regions of North America. Its nodding flowers vary from greenish pink to purple, and it prefers shaded woodland environments. More information on this species and others of the genus are at Epipactis.-External links:*...
(L.) Crantz : Broad-leaved Helleborine (N. Africa, Europe to C. China).- 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 leptochilaEpipactis leptochilaThe Narrow-lipped Helleborine is a species of the genus Epipactis....
(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 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 microphyllaEpipactis microphyllaSmall-leaved Helleborine ) is a species of orchid.- External links :*...
(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 muelleriEpipactis muelleriEpipactis muelleri is a species of orchid....
(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 palustrisEpipactis palustrisEpipactis palustris is an orchid. An example occurrence of this species is in the Sarmatic mixed forests ecoregion. -References:* C.Michael Hogan. 2011....
: Marsh Helleborine, Marsh Orchid (Europe to Caucasus and Mongolia) - Epipactis papillosa (Russian Far East to Korea, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) - Epipactis persica (Soó) Nannf.John Axel NannfeldtJohn-Axel Nannfeldt , born 18 January 1904 in Trelleborg and deceased 4 November 1985 in Uppsala, was a Swedish botanist and mycologist....
(SE. Europe to W. Pakistan)- Epipactis persica subsp. exilis (P.Delforge) Kreutz
- Epipactis phyllanthesEpipactis phyllanthesEpipactis phyllanthes is an orchid....
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 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: LindisfarneLindisfarneLindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
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 tremolsiiEpipactis tremolsiiEpipactis tremolsii is a species of terrestrial orchid of the genus Epipactis, belonging to the family Orchidaceae. It is confined to the western Mediterranean region where it grows in open mixed oak, cork oak and pine woodland...
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 (2005) (Greece)
- Epipactis viridiflora subsp. pollinensis (B.Baumann & H.Baumann) B.Baumann & H.Baumann (2005) (Italy)
- Epipactis viridiflora subsp. pseudopurpurata (Mered'a) Kreutz
- Epipactis viridiflora var. rosea (Erdner) Kreutz
- Epipactis xanthophaea (China).
- Epipactis youngianaEpipactis youngianaEpipactis youngiana is an orchid....
: 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 x 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).