Epipactis neerlandica/Epipactis helleborine var. neerlandica - Broad-leaved Helleborine - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is extremely rare and localised. Its name, neerlandica, means 'from Holland' where it can be found in the north. It is also sometimes known as a variety of Broad-leaved Helleborine - Epipactis helleborine which is much more common and widespread throughout Europe.

Epipactis neerlandica

Epipactis neerlandica occurs in woodland, but is not found in the deeply shaded parts that we associate with Epipactis helleborine. E. neerlandica also grows in open and light pine woodland on sandy soils, but equally occurs in sand dunes amongst willow scrub. It flowers from the mid-to-end of July and right through August.

Epipactis neerlandica flowers

This orchid can grow up to 50cm in height, and in open situations it is a robust-looking plant with as many as 40 flowers opening gradually on each spike. The flowers are often tinged pink and have deep brown-to-maroon hypochiles making very attractive plants, unlike other members of the genus which are decidedly dowdy-looking. It is a plant of the Atlantic region of Europe and can be found in Denmark (Jutland), Germany, Belgium and Holland as well as in South-west Wales in Great Britain.

The hypochile of Epipartis neerlandica

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 a good number of plants in the sand dunes in the more remote parts of the reserve.