Epipactis – Helleborines

Epipactis (Helleborines) is a genus of terrestrial orchids containing about 25 species distributed across North and Central America, Eurasia, and North Africa. These orchids often grow in disturbed habitats, including on roadsides, lawns, cracks in sidewalks, and former quarries; in undisturbed habitats, they can be found in moist or dry forests and swamps. They combine showy flowers with easy cultivation. Helleborine orchids produce several alternating stem leaves, without a basal rosette. The flowers have incurved upper petals, forming a helmet and the lower lip is curved into a cup shape.