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Epipactis

Epipactis

Overview
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
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...

, 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 water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...

. These orchids grow in open spaces in forests, in undergrowth, on calcareous soils and are often found in wet dune-slacks near the sea.
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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
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...

, 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 water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...

. 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. This is one of the most abundant orchids of the Pacific coast of North America.This is an erect perennial...

). One species from Europe, Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine is an orchid. 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 the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...

. Most species are protected.

Most of these hardy orchids grow in a wet environment, but there are exceptions. The Marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris
Epipactis palustris
Epipactis palustris is an orchid....

) 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. This is one of the most abundant orchids of the Pacific coast of North America.This is an erect perennial...

 is a species found in the American west, and into southern Canada
Canada
Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending 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 an orchid. 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 plant. In a mycorrhizal association, the fungus may colonize the roots of a host plant, either intracellularly or extracellularly...

l symbiosis
Symbiosis
The term symbosis commonly describes close and often long-term interactions between different biological species...

 (see also Orchid mycorrhiza
Orchid mycorrhiza
Orchid mycorrhiza are a symbiotic relationship between the roots of plants of the family Orchidaceae and a variety of fungi. All orchids are mycoheterotrophic at some point in their life cycle. Orchid mycorrhiza 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
In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin. There is continued debate about whether the flatness of leaves evolved to expose the chloroplasts to more light or to increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. In...

, 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 most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek χλωρός and φύλλον...

 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 mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds...

s grow from a terminal raceme. The three sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Sepals in most flowers are green and lie under the more conspicuous petals. As a collective unit the sepals form a calyx, whereas the collection of petals is called the corolla...

s and the two lateral petal
Petal
A petal is one member or part of the corolla of a flower. The corolla is the name for all of the petals of a flower; the inner perianth whorl, term used when this is not the same in appearance as the outermost whorl and is used to attract pollinators based on its bright color...

s are ovate and acuminate. Their color can vary from greenish-white to violet and purple.

The lip
Labellum
The labellum is part of an Orchid, Canna or other less known flower that serves to attract insects that pollinate the flower, and acts as a landing platform for those insects....

 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 carpel 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 dehiscent structure composed of two or more carpels, that, at maturity, split apart to release the seeds within...

 with countless minute seed
Seed
A seed , referred to as a kernel in some plants, 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 distans
    Epipactis distans
    Epipactis 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 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. This is one of the most abundant orchids of the Pacific coast of North America.This is an erect perennial...

     : 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
    Epipactis helleborine
    Epipactis helleborine is an orchid. 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 leptochila
    Epipactis leptochila
    The 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 microphylla
    Epipactis microphylla
    Small-leaved Helleborine ) is a species of orchid....

     (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
    Epipactis muelleri
    Epipactis 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 palustris
    Epipactis palustris
    Epipactis palustris is an orchid....

     : Marsh Helleborine, Marsh Orchid (Europe to Caucasus and Mongolia)
  • Epipactis papillosa (Russian Far East to Korea, Japan
    Japan
    is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of 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. (SE. Europe to W. Pakistan)
    • Epipactis persica subsp. exilis (P.Delforge) Kreutz
  • Epipactis phyllanthes
    Epipactis phyllanthes
    Epipactis 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: Lindisfarne
    Lindisfarne
    Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England also known as Holy Island, the name of the civil parish. The name Lindisfarne derives from Farne meaning "retreat" and Lindis, a small tidal river adjacent to the island. It has a population of 162...

     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 (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 youngiana
    Epipactis youngiana
    Epipactis 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).

External links