This species was first described from Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany by Crantz in 1753. It is probably
the commonest and most familiar of the European Epipactis and is widely known as the Broad Leaved
Helleborine.
E. helleborine has a huge distribution throughout Europe and Asia and occurs as far east as Siberia and
the Himalayas. It can be found as far north as the Scandinavian countries and in the south reaches the
Mediterranean and Aegean, although this southerly range is is open to question due to confusion with other
related species. Well over a century ago it was introduced to the United States and has spread quite
dramatically.
It is an orchid that tolerates a wide range of differing climatic conditions, soil PH and habitat and has
aquired a reputation as a species that can turn up almost anywhere - even in strongly urbanised areas. As
a consequence of both this and a natural predisposition for variation, E. helleborine can appear in very
diverse forms and its difficult to give a firm guide to its correct identification. Its relationship to E.
neerlandica in the dunes of South Wales has been the subject of ongoing study for some years and it now
seems clear that natural intermediates are created by their avaliable light position on the dune .
E. helleborine usually has a heart shaped lip with the tip folding back tightly underneath and the hypochile
reddish to dark brown. The leaves are broad and blunt and are generally held horizontally from the stem
(or drooping) unlike several other members of the group which carry them in a more upright position. The
photographs are all from the Chiltern hills of Southern England.
