Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Cephalanthera damasonium / white helleborine

Cephalanthera damasonium (Mill.) Druce

white helleborine (Orchidaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
RestrictedVery strong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Cephalanthera damasonium is found in woods over chalk or limestone in southern England; it has broad, 2-ranked leaves, unlike Cephalanthera longifolia.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2019-05-14

 white helleborine / Cephalanthera damasonium: _Cephalanthera damasonium_ is found in woods over chalk or limestone in southern England; it has broad, 2-ranked leaves, unlike _Cephalanthera longifolia_.

The flowers of Cephalanthera damasonium are held close to the stem, with a large, leaf-like bract below the untwisted ovary, all in contrast to Cephalanthera longifolia.

Notgrove (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2020-05-17

 white helleborine / Cephalanthera damasonium: The flowers of _Cephalanthera damasonium_ are held close to the stem, with a large, leaf-like bract below the untwisted ovary, all in contrast to _Cephalanthera longifolia_.

The fruit of Cephalanthera damasonium is elongated and held vertically upwards; the ovary is typically straight, unlike Cephalanthera longifolia.

Sherborne (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2020-07-07

 white helleborine / Cephalanthera damasonium: The fruit of _Cephalanthera damasonium_ is elongated and held vertically upwards; the ovary is typically straight, unlike _Cephalanthera longifolia_.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne