Epipactis helleborine
Broad-leaved helleborine ( Epipactis helleborine )
The Broad-leaved (Epipactis helleborine ), also called broad-leaved marsh orchid or Broad- sitter, belongs to the genus leaved Wurzen ( Epipactis ) in the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). The now common German name Broad-leaved helleborine is a literal translation of an earlier synonym of this species of orchid ( Epipactis latifolia (L. ) All., 1785). This plant is in their inventory in Germany still largely unchallenged. Since the 1970s, however, a decline in incidence is observed. To draw attention to this fact, the Broad-leaved (Epipactis helleborine ) of the working groups Native Orchids ( Aho ) was chosen as the Orchid of the year 2006.
Description
The Broad-leaved helleborine is a perennial, herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights between 20 and 100 centimeters. This Geophyt forms a rhizome. The strong stem is bare. At the lower end of the stem are the oval 4 to 10 inches wide stem leaves.
It begins in late May and expel blooms between late July and late August. Your zygomorphic flowers are white to greenish pink and have the typical structure of orchids. After pollination, often by wasps to fruit capsules that open in August and September and so skipped the seeds develop. The dust fine seed can be carried very far by wind.
Ecology
The Broad-leaved helleborine is a rhizome with Geophyt endotrophic from orchids mycorrhizal type. The fungal partner is simultaneously mycorrhizal partners of forest trees, and organic substances originating from the tree, are also be detected in the orchid.
The flowers are " lip flowers from Orchis - type", without spur. The lower lip is composed of two articulated interconnected parts, the rear trough-shaped portion carries the nectary. Pollinators, such as Wasps, bees and flies, attach themselves when they crawl back again, by touching the Klebdrüse the sessile pollinia to the head, which is then transferred to other flowers. Wasps visit the flowers, but do not contribute to pollination, as they are the pollinia not attach themselves. Self-pollination is rare. Bloom time is from July to August.
The fruits are hanging capsules, which open when dry with longitudinal columns. The capsules put tiny little seeds in very large numbers freely, namely about 10,000 seeds per fruit. You will be blown by the wind and spread as granules flyer with a settling velocity of 20 cm / s; by flight distances can be achieved over 10 km. Fruit ripening is from August to September.
Vegetative reproduction occurs by branching of the rhizome.
Occurrence and location
This orchid grows in Europe, Asia and North Africa, as a neophyte in North America.
In the deciduous forests on the Jungmoränenplatten northern Germany, it is the most common orchid. This type is often found on forest edges and clearings, as it possible to semi- shady places stature preferred. Compared to the lime content of the soil, this plant is undemanding to a certain degree. Although they tolerated in rare cases, lime-free soils, but occurs mainly in regions with such soils near or directly along forest paths with Kalkschotterauflage ago.
Subspecies
The range of broadleaf helleborine is considerable. However, subspecies of the nominate can be demarcated.
- Dutch helleborine ( Epipactis helleborine subsp. Neerlandica )
The Kurzblättrige helleborine (Ep. distans ) is a subspecies Epipactis helleborine subsp also. orbicularis or Ep helleborine subsp. distans out.