Family: orchids (Orchidaceae)
Flowering period: July–September
Size: 20–70 cm
Habitat: deciduous and mixed, sometimes also coniferous forests
Purple helleborine (Epipactis purpurata) takes its name from its color, as the whole plant is distinctly purple-tinged. The erect stem is leafy with alternately arranged, fairly short leaves.
Its lanceolate leaves with a slightly undulate margin are shorter or only slightly longer than the stem internodes. The upper two to three stem leaves are similar to the leaves supporting the flowers. Up to 50, fairly large and mildly fragrant flowers form a versatile inflorescence. The broadly opened flowers are sickle-shaped or protrude horizontally. Three greenish outer tepals are pink-tinged, and the inner petals are white to greenish. The front part of the lip is pink, its tip turned inward. The brown-pink rear part of the lip is shiny and covered with nectar. Purple helleborine often grows in clumps; it is found in shady and moist deciduous and mixed forests.
Apart from the sub-Mediterranean region, it is scattered throughout Slovenia. In our country it is protected and listed as a rare species on the Red List!
