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Project Noah Nature School
Neottia nidus-avis
This species is unusual in that it contains little or no chlorophyll and so cannot photosynthesize, it therefore requires little if any light to survive and so can and frequently does grow in dense shade. It used to be classified as a saprophyte, living on dead and decaying plant matter, recent studies however have shown it to have a complex "parasitic" relationship with mycorrhizal fungi and neighbouring trees. Grows up to up to 50cm, with flower spike quite variable in length.
Spotted on Apr 30, 2013
Submitted on May 3, 2013
2 Comments
you are welcome, it's really interesting, I was so happy when I found it :D
I have never read such an interesting plant spotting- thank you!