Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Genus: | Epipactis |
Species: | E. helleborine
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Binomial name | |
Epipactis helleborine | |
Synonyms[1][2] | |
List
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Epipactis helleborine, the broad-leaved helleborine, is a terrestrial species of orchid with a broad distribution. It is a long lived herb which varies morphologically with ability to self-pollinate.[3]
Description
Epipactis helleborine can grow to a maximum height of 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or more under good conditions, and has broad dull green leaves which are strongly ribbed and flat.[4][5] The flowers are arranged in long drooping racemes with dull green sepals and shorter upper petals. The lower labellum is pale red and is much shorter than the upper petals.[6]
Achlorophyllous, white Epipactis helleborine plants have been found. Achlorophyllous forms tend to be shorter, as small as 17 cm.[4]
Flowering occurs June–September.[7]
Distribution
This species is widespread across much of Europe and Asia, from Portugal to China, as well as northern Africa.[1][8][9]
In the United Kingdom, the species is widespread and common in England and Wales, but is absent from most of Scotland scattered across Ireland.[10]
In North America, it is an introduced species and widely naturalized mostly in the
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Distribution in North America
Habitat
Found in woods and hedge-banks[16] and often not far from paths near human activity.[17] It is one of the most likely European orchids to be found within a city, with many sites for example in Glasgow, London and Moscow. Sometimes spotted beside car parks.[18]
Epipactis helleborine is known for its successful colonization of human-made or
Ecology
This species of orchid is pollinated by several species of
Epipactis helleborine requires a
It has been suggested that the presence of this orchid species in a woodland is an indicator that edible truffles can be found there,[24] but this is not always the case.
Subspecies
A rather long list of names have been proposed for subspecies, varieties and forms of Epipactis helleborine, far too many to list here.[25] This is not unusual for such a widespread species. At present (November 2021) only the following are accorded international acceptance:[25]
- Epipactis helleborine subsp. bithynica (Robatsch) Kreutz - Turkey
- Epipactis helleborine subsp. helleborine - widespread
- Epipactis helleborine subsp. neerlandica (Verm.) Buttler - Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany
- Epipactis helleborine var. tangutica (Schltr.) S.C.Chen & G.H.Zhu - China
- Epipactis helleborine subsp. tremolsii (Pau) E.Klein - France, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Italy, Algeria, Morocco
Chemistry
According to a study published in 2005 by Jakubska et al. trace amounts of narcotic compounds have been identified in the plants nectar, namely 3-{2-{3-{3-(benzyloxy)propyl}-3-indol, 7,8-didehydro- 4,5-epoxy-3,6-d-morphinan and oxycodone.[21] This is still debated however, as there is no evidence that such molecules could be readily biosynthesized in a plant.
References
- ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Species, Epipactis helleborine
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Epipactis helleborine subsp. helleborine, synonyms
- ^ S2CID 9878820.
- ^ a b General Morphology and Anatomy of Chlorophyll-free and Green Forms of Epipactis helleborine
- ISBN 978-82-7518-211-9.
Under gode vekstforhold kan den nå høyder på over meteren. (Under good conditions it can reach heights of more than a metre.)
- ISBN 0-85221-131-7
- ^ First Nature - Epipactis Helleborine
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Elleborine comune, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz
- ^ Flora of China v 25 p 180, 火烧兰 huo shao lan, Epipactis helleborine (Linnaeus) Crantz
- ^ Cole, Sean (2020). Britain's Orchids. WildGuides. p. 126.
- ^ Flora of North America v 26 p 586, Epipactis helleborine (Linnaeus) Crantz
- ^ Biota of North America Program, county range map
- ^ Tenney, Angela; Hill, Erin (2022-06-24). "Broad-leaved helleborine: A weedy orchid invading lawns and flowerbeds". Michigan State University Extension.
- ^ "Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas: Plants to Watch". Archived from the original on 2010-12-10.
- ^ "Epipactis helleborine".
- ISBN 0 521 04656 4
- ISBN 0-85389-695 X
- ^ PMID 28439457.
- ^ "London Wildlife Trust - Orchid for July". Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
- ^ Bioinfo - Epipactis helleborine
- ^ .
- PMID 26946528.
- S2CID 19796924.
- ^ Ouanphanivanh, Noémi; Merényi, Zsolt; Orczán, Ákos Kund; Bratek, Zoltán; Szigeti, Zoltán; Illyés, Zoltán (January 2008). "Could orchids indicate truffle habitats? Mycorrhizal association between orchids and truffles". Acta Biologica Szegediensis. 52 (1): 229–232.
- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families - List of names for Epipactis helleborine