photo

Epipogium aphyllum

Ghost orchid 

Photographed S Germany, 22 July 1998.  

Negative number 99R8A

The height of this orchid is 2 to 12 inches (5 to 30 cm) and the number of flowers per stem varies from 1 to 10. This orchid has no leaves and depends upon mycorrhiza, it is not known if a tri-partite relationship with a tree is involved, but would not be surprising. It appears to be associated with Beech Fagus sylvatica in England, where it is very rare and conifers in Europe. In Bavaria it flowers regularly around late July but in England it only appears to flower briefly and irregularly every 10 years or so, between the months of May and September.

It is the only species of this genus to flower in Europe as its range does not overlap with that of the other species in the genus.

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