Helleborine

(Epipactis helleborine)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: NRCS Plants Database, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine [L.] Crantz)

Identification: Flowers purple and green. Lower flower petal heart-shaped, concave, and with the apex curled downward. Two upward pointed "petals" arise from the base of the lower petal and the whole flower is framed by three, pointed sepals. Flowers in a loose terminal spike. Leafy bracts interspersed with the flowers. Stem with many leaves increasing in size from top to bottom. Bottom leaves large, ovate-elongate with their bases clasping the stem. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Across southeastern Canada southward to Missouri in the west and North Carolina the east. Also occurs in scattered localities in western North America.

Habitat: Helleborine is found in woods and thickets.

Flowering period: July to September.

Similar Species: The purple-green flowers with their distinctive lower petal and leafy stem should identify this species.

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