Epipactis atrorubens

Epipactis atrorubens, the dark-red helleborine[2] or royal helleborine, is an herbaceous plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae.

Epipactis atrorubens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Epipactis
Species:
E. atrorubens
Binomial name
Epipactis atrorubens
Synonyms[1]
  • Serapias latifolia atrorubens Hoffm.
  • Serapias atrorubens (Hoffm.) Bernh.
  • Epipactis latifolia var. atrorubens (Hoffm.) Wallr.
  • Helleborine atrorubens (Hoffm.) Druce
  • Epipactis atropurpurea Raf.
  • Epipactis media Fr.
  • Epipactis macropodia Peterm.
  • Epipactis viridans (Crantz) Beck
  • Limodorum rubiginosum (Crantz) Kuntze
  • Helleborine media (Fr.) Druce
  • Amesia atropurpurea (Raf.) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
  • Helleborine rubiginosa (Crantz) Samp.
  • Helleborine viridans (Crantz) Samp.
  • Amesia rubiginosa (Crantz) Mousley
  • Epipactis cruenta Bertero ex Vignolo
  • Epipactis subclausa Robatsch
  • Epipactis thessala B.Baumann & H.Baumann
  • Epipactis danubialis Robatsch & Rydlo
  • Epipactis spiridonovii Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

As with many other species of orchids, the species is legally protected in some countries. Plantlife designated the dark-red helleborine as the county flower for Banffshire, Scotland.

Description

The plant is hardy and has a short rootstalk, often with multiple, fleshy roots. It blooms from June to August with erect, mostly purple inflorescences with dense hair on the tops, standing between 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) in height. The blossoms emit a strong vanilla scent, especially in warm weather. The flowers sometimes vary in color, but are in general reddish-brown. The fruit is a capsule, out of which the light, dustlike seeds are spread by the wind. A number of natural hybrids with other Epipactis species are known.

Variation in flower colour

Taxonomy

Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm.) Besser is an accepted species,[1] though Epipactis atrorubens Rostk. ex Spreng.[3] nom. illeg. is a synonym of Epipactis microphylla.

Distribution and habitat

The dark-red helleborine is widespread across Europe,[4] and is found in the north to the subarctic, in the south to the Mediterranean, and in the east to Western Siberia and the Caucasus.[1] (Codes) [5] The orchid grows at altitudes from sea level to 2,400 m (7,900 ft), and so can be found in mountainous regions such as the southern Alps. In Central Europe it has been in decline in recent decades. It is not, however, one of the most severely threatened species of orchid. The species is also reportedly naturalized in one location in the US State of Vermont.[6][7]

The dark-red helleborine favours warm and dry locations, with soil basic to neutral in pH, nutrient-poor, and permeable. It grows in loose rock, scree, or sandy soils above a limestone substrate, including dunes, lawns, or open forest. It is also a pioneer species, which settles in fallow areas, road embankments, and waste dumps, in the early to middle stages of ecological succession, among communities of grass and bush and light birch stands.

Ecology

Epipactis atrorubens relies upon mycorrhizal associations with several fungi species in the order Pezizales. Pezizales are some of the least abundant fungal species in the forests where this orchid species grows.[8]

The flowers of this orchid species are often pollinated by insects, particularly bees.[9]

  • Plant
  • Inflorescence

Conservation

This species is assessed as conservation status "least concern" in Europe and in the United Kingdom, however, its distribution in some countries is scarce and it has been noted to be threatened in some areas by overgrazing and quarrying.[10][11]

References
  1. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. Syst. Veg. 3: 707 (1826)
  4. Altervista Flora Italiana, Elleborine violacea, Epipactis atrorubens
  5. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families TDWG Geocodes" (PDF).
  6. Flora of North America, v 26 p 585, Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffmann ex Bernhardi) Besser
  7. Biota of North America Program, county distribution map
  8. American Journal of Botany - Symbiotic germination capability of four Epipactis species (Orchidaceae) is broader than expected from adult ecology
  9. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
  10. European Environment Agency
  11. BSBI Species Account
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