Epipactis helleborine - Broad-leaved Helleborine

Anyone fond of walking in woods and forests in high summer migh come across the Broad-leaved Helleborine which favours clearings and often appear very close to well trodden paths.

The member of the Helleborine family is often confused with other members of the genus due the the many colours of the flowers which can vary considerably from plant to plant even when they are very close to each other. It is the leaves that are distinctive, living up to the name they are wide and ribbed and unlike the leaves of other helleborines.

The specimen above was photographed in Portugal on the Algarve in early May.

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