Neottia nidus-avis

Bird's nest orchid

Photographed England, 22 May 1997 

Negative number 97n20

The height of this plant varies from about 4 to 24 inches (10 to 60 cm). The labellum size is 7 to 12 mm and it produces no true leaves, just a few scales on the stem. The flower colour is typically yellowish-brown. It is believed that this orchid forms a tri-partite relationship with a mycorrhizal fungi and a tree. It is often associated with Hazel Corylus avellana, Beech Fagus sylvatica or conifers. The Latin and common names are a reference to the appearance of the root system. It seems to grow only in woodland, often in areas supporting only it, or Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis. As far as we know, the only successful method of obtaining protocorms from seed has involved planting packets of seed beside parent plants (and therefore the other members of the tri-partite relationship).