Epipactis Helleborine, Broad-Leaved Helleborine

Epipactis helleborine originates in Europe, and has been naturalized in some parts of the US; in the West, the plant occurs in scattered areas of Oregon and California, mainly close to the coast. This species is similar to epipactis gigantea, but the habitats are different (dry vs. wet), and the flowers are smaller.

Leaves are relatively long and wide, especially around the base of the stem, and they have the lengthwise veins typical of orchids. The inflorescence is an elongated cluster extending over the upper half (or more) of the stem, containing up to to 20, alternately-arranged flowers, each subtended by a linear or narrowly lanceolate bract.

Flowers have three green, equally-sized sepals, often with purple stripes or tints, and three petals. The two side petals are white at the base, pink towards the tip, on the outside, more brownish-pink on the inner surface. The lower petal is similarly colored, and forms a distinct pouch towards the front.