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Helleborine

Epipactis helleborine

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42.3118, -72.4933

Field Notes

Notes:

This occasionally large orchid is introduced in North America and can be sometimes be found growing from the cracks in the sidewalk in urban areas. In Western Massachusetts it prefers rich woods, especially along stream banks. There is some concern that it is crowding out native orchids, such as Galearis spectabilis, from their shared habitats.

Reference Links:

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Dan Doucette
I've been seeing them around Niagara. They aren't exactly invasive but I have had to remove more than a few while working in some places.
ScottRasmussen
What part of the world have you been seeing it? It's strange to think of an "invasive" cosmopolitan orchid, considering the highly specialized habitat requirements and fungal associations almost all other orchids require. Epipactis definitely has something going for it that other orchids don't have. I just hope it doesn't become the purple loosestrife of the orchid family.
Dan Doucette
This is great Scott, thanks. I've been seeing some of these around. I knew it was an orchid but had yet to research which one.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Flowers of massachussetts
Mission
Flowers of North America
Mission
Wild Orchids
Mission
Orchids of the Americas
Photographed
PublishedJuly 19, 2011

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