ID/Confirm Helleborines please

alindsay · #1 (**permalink**) 14-08-2011, 09:26 PM

We saw these Violet Helleborines 1st, please confirm

and then we were directed to this plant which was called a Rosy... something variant

and then we found this one

Any ideas please?

All found round Whteleaf Nature Reserve Nr Princes Risborough

Dorts · #2 (**permalink**) 14-08-2011, 09:35 PM

They are all Violet Helleborines - Epipactis purpurata .
The first is a pale variant.
The second is var. rosia, by no means common!
And the third is a normal plant.
Dorts.

alindsay · #3 (**permalink**) 14-08-2011, 09:41 PM

Wow!!! How lucky were we to be directed to these beautiful plants.

Thanks for the ID Dorts

Dorts · #4 (**permalink**) 14-08-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alindsay

Wow!!! How lucky were we to be directed to these beautiful plants.
Thanks for the ID Dorts

Wow! is the right word. They are wonderfull orchids and probably one of the longest-lived of our native species. I know of individual plants that are certainly 40 years or more and they could possibly reach three or four times that.
Dorts.