MARSH HELLEBORINE |
EPIPACTIS PALUSTRIS |
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| Fig 1 |
DESCRIPTION: Height up to 60cm. One of the more attractive orchid species with the tall flower spikes holding up to 20 attractive individual flowers down one distinct side. Each flower has purplish-brown sepals, crimson and white petals with a pink base, a cup shaped lip that is white, frilled with a yellow spot on the lower half and with the upper half streaked with dark crimson. The leaves are pointed and plentiful and are strongly veined. The bases of these leaves can be tinged pinkish. DISTRIBUTION: Widespread but local and decreasing. HABITAT: Calcerous fens, wet dune areas, wet meadows and marshland. FLOWERING TIME: July to September. |