Family: cuckoo orchids (Orchidaceae)
Flowering time: June–August
Size: 25–50 cm
Habitat: beech forests
The erect stem of Greuter's marsh orchid (Epipactis greuteri) is in the upper part downy-haired. It is leafy with 4 to 7 ovate-lanceolate leaves, which are about as long as the stem segments. The acuminate leaves are mostly flat, horizontal, or slightly drooping downward. The lip-shaped flowers with a long ovary develop on long pedicels (longer than 5 mm) and are widely spread. The subtending leaves of the lower flowers are much longer than the flowers and distinctly hanging. The lateral petals are greenish, the inner ones may be pink, and the honey-colored lip is white with a light green stripe in the middle. Greuter's marsh orchid is a rare species in Slovenia, growing in moist beech and fir-beech forests. Like other cuckoo orchids, it is also protected in Slovenia.
When identifying woodland marsh orchid species, we must be careful, as their differentiation is difficult - the species resemble each other, and individuals of the same species can differ quite a lot. In addition, hybrids are common among them, which further complicate identification.
