A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Epipactis helleborine
This occasionally large orchid is introduced in North America and can be sometimes be found growing from the cracks in the sidewalk in urban areas. In Western Massachusetts it prefers rich woods, especially along stream banks. There is some concern that it is crowding out native orchids, such as Galearis spectabilis, from their shared habitats.
Spotted on Jul 11, 2011
Submitted on Jul 19, 2011
3 Comments
I've been seeing them around Niagara. They aren't exactly invasive but I have had to remove more than a few while working in some places.
What part of the world have you been seeing it? It's strange to think of an "invasive" cosmopolitan orchid, considering the highly specialized habitat requirements and fungal associations almost all other orchids require. Epipactis definitely has something going for it that other orchids don't have. I just hope it doesn't become the purple loosestrife of the orchid family.
This is great Scott, thanks. I've been seeing some of these around. I knew it was an orchid but had yet to research which one.