Epipactis phyllanthes - Green-flowered Helleborine - (Orchidaceae)

Epipactis phyllanthes - Gree-flowered Helleborine

The Green-flowered Helleborine can hardly be described as a pretty flower with its green, pendulous blooms which sometimes barely open.

The plant grows up to about 40 cm and the flower spikes have around 20 individual flowers. In deep woodland the plants will be much shorter and with far fewer flowers. Epipactis phyllanthes is becoming increasingly rare and its appearance is very patchy throughout Europe.

The specimen above was photographed in Hampshire in June.