Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Epipactis purpurata / violet helleborine

Epipactis purpurata Sm.

violet helleborine (Orchidaceae)

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

The stem is almost hairless within the inflorescence; the flowers are green, drooping and often cleistogamous, and the ovary is hairless.

Savernake Forest (VC7: North Wiltshire); 2020-07-03

 violet helleborine / Epipactis purpurata: The stem is almost hairless within the inflorescence; the flowers are green, drooping and often cleistogamous, and the ovary is hairless.

Even when the purple colouration is weaker, the leaves are grey-green and the flowers are violet-tinged.

Green Hailey (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-07-28

 violet helleborine / Epipactis purpurata: Even when the purple colouration is weaker, the leaves are grey-green and the flowers are violet-tinged.

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