Epipactis helleborine, (L.) Crantz, 1769, 1769

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 327

2. E. helleborine (L.) Crantz ,

op. cit. 467 (1769) ( Helleborine latifolia (L.) Moench)

. Rhizome short, oblique or horizontal. Stem 35-80(-100) cm, pubescent above, often purplish below, with sheathing scales. Leaves spirally arranged, 4-10, 5-17 x 2-5-10 cm, ovate-elliptical to suborbicular, acute to shortly acuminate. Raceme (7-)10-40cm, 15- to 50-flowered; bracts lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, the lower equalling or exceeding flowers. Flowers obliquely pendent; outer perianth-segments 10-13 mm, elliptic-ovate, greenish, the inner pinkish-violet towards the base. Labellum 9-11 mm; hypochile cupuliform, greenish outside, dark reddish-brown inside; epichile cordate to broadly ovate, with recurved acute apex, shorter than to as long as wide, greenish-white, pink or purplish, with 2(-3) smooth or slightly rugose basal protuberances. Rostellum persistent. Ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy. 2^=36,38,40,44.

Woods and scrub; sometimes among maritime sand-dunes.

Almost throughout Europe. All except Az?B 1 Fa Is Sb.