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Epipactis phyllanthes var. cambrensis - Green-flowered Helleborine

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Liliopsida - Order: Orchidales - Family: Orchidaceae

Green-flowered Helleborine at Kenfig NNR

The physical appearance of Epipactis phyllanthes is confusing and inconsistent resulting in some authorities separating plants into varieties based on their geographic locations, although to the casual observer the differences between the plants would be difficult to identify with confidence.

Epipactis phyllanthes var. cambrensis is one such example. It grows in the sand dune systems of South Wales, particularly in Kenfig National Nature Reserve where Epipactis phyllanthes var. vectensis is also thought to occur.

Description

The plants can grow to a maximum of 40cm, but they are often smaller. Up to 40 flowers are carried on a somewhat drooping infloresence, and they are a rather unappealing yellowish-green colour. When found in woodland this orchid can be frustrating to photograph as the flowers seldom open fully. Specimens found in the more open environment of sand dunes are more likely to open, exposing the shallow hypochile.

A closeup of Epipactis phyllanthes

Distribution

Epipactis phyllanthes var. cambrensis is found in the dune systems of South Wales.

Habitat

The plant is found in sand dunes and shady woodlands on chalky soil, and can often grow in quite dense vegetation making it very difficult to spot. Although cross-pollination is possible with newly-opened flowers, Epipactis phyllanthes is thought to be cleistogamous - fertilisation occurs in the bud.

The plants on this page were photographed at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales in the UK at the end of July. The flowers persist until well into August, and Kenfig has plants in woodland and sand dune habitats in remote parts of the reserve.

Etymology

The genus name Epipactis is an ancient Greek name of a plant said to be capable of curdling milk (perhaps a Hellebore). The type species of this genus is Epipactis helleborine, the species name of which means 'like a hellebore' - a reference to a physical resemblance in this instance. The specific epithet phyllanthes means 'leaf-flowers' and may refer to the fact that the leaves and flowers are the same colour, while the subspecies name cambrensis means 'Welsh' or 'from Wales'.

Reference sources

The Plant List

Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of Wales - how, when and where to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)

Anne and Simon Harrap (2005) Orchids of Britain and Ireland; A&C Black

Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black


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