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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Epipactis''
| image = Epipactis helleborine.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Broad-leaved Helleborine<br /> (''Epipactis helleborine'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Epidendroideae]]
| tribus = Neottieae
| subtribus = Limodorinae
| genus = '''''Epipactis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Johann Gottfried Zinn|Zinn]] 1757
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
See text.
}}

'''''Epipactis''''' [[Johann Gottfried Zinn|Zinn]], 1757, or '''Helleborine''' is a genus of [[orchid]]s comprised of approximately 70 terrestrial species.

They occur in temperate and subtropical climates of [[The Americas|America]], [[Asia]], and [[Europe]]. These orchids grow in open spaces in forests, in undergrowth, on calcareous soils and are often found in wet dune-slacks near the sea. The only original American species is Giant Helleborine (''Epipactis gigantea''). One species from Europe, Broad-leaved Helleborine (''Epipactis helleborine''), is invasive in [[North America]]. Most species are protected.

[[Image:Epipactis-gigantea1web.jpg|thumb|left|Giant Helleborine<br />(''Epipactis gigantea'')]]

Most of these hardy orchids grow in a wet environment. The Marsh helleborine (''Epipactis palustris'') is the only European orchid able to survive in a flooded habitat. ''Epipactis gigantea'' is a species found in the American west, and into southern [[Canada]], in wet areas and even streams. It can grow to a height of 1 m. But ''Epipactis helleborine'' grows in more diverse habitats, from sheltered sandy beaches to open spaces in deciduous or coniferous forests, to moist soils. And there are other exceptions.

They all strongly depend on their [[symbiosis]] with their [[hypha|hyphal threads]]. Some species therefore have reduced leaves and need little chlorophyll. Violet Helleborine (''Epipactis viridiflora'') can even do without chlorophyll. These forms can be recognized by their purple instead of violet flowers.

Their creeping, fleshy [[rhizomes]] grow offshoots, from which then emerge the 20-70 cm long stems during the next spring.

There are four to eight alternate, lanceolate [[Leaf|leaves]], that grow progressively shorter near the top. The margins are entire, the top is acute. Species with less [[chlorophyll]] have blue-purple leaves.


Their bilaterally symmetrical colorful [[flower]]s grow from a terminal raceme. The three [[sepal]]s and the two lateral [[petal]]s are ovate and acuminate. Their color can vary from greenish-white to violet and purple.

The [[labellum|lip]] is divided in a bowl-shaped hypochile, with the outer surface greenish-white and threaded with dark veins. The wavy, snowwhite epichile is fan-shaped.

The [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] is inferior. It produces a dry [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] with countless minute [[seed]]s.

== Species ==
[[Image:Epipactis-gigantea3web.jpg|thumb|right|Giant Helleborine - habitat]]
*''Epipactis africana'' (Ethiopia to Malawi).
*''Epipactis albensis'' (C. Europe).
**''Epipactis albensis'' var. ''albensis'' (EC. Europe). Rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis albensis'' var. ''fibri'' (France). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis aspromontana'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''aspromontana'' (Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis atromarginata'' (Vietnam).
*''[[Epipactis atrorubens]]'' (Hoffm.) Besser : '''Dark Red Helleborine, Royal Helleborine''' (Europe to Caucasus).
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''atrorubens''
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''atrata'' A.Waldner & Webernd (2005)(Austria).
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''danubialis'' (Robatsch & Rydlo) Ciocârlan & R.Rösler
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''spiridonovii'' (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''subclausa'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis atrorubens'' var. ''triploidea'' (Gelbr. & G.Hamel) Kreutz
*''Epipactis baumanniorum'' Ströhle
*''Epipactis bithynica'' (Turkey) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''bithynica'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis bugacensis'' (Hungary).
*''Epipactis campeadorii'' (Spain).
*''Epipactis cardina'' (Spain).
*''Epipactis condensata'' (Turkey to Lebanon, Cyprus, W. Transcaucasus).
*''Epipactis cretica'' (Crete).
*''Epipactis danubialis'' (Romania) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''danubialis'' (Robatsch & Rydlo) Ciocârlan & R.Rösler
*''Epipactis degenii'' (Greece) - now synonym of ''Epipactis halacsyi'' subsp. ''degenii'' (Szentp. & Mónus) Kreutz
*''Epipactis distans'' Arvet-Touvet (Central Europe)
*''Epipactis dunensis'' (Great Britain (N. England to N. Wales).
*''Epipactis duriensis'' Bernardos, D.Tyteca (Portugal) - now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' var. ''duriensis'' (Bernardos, D.Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich) P.Delforge
*''Epipactis exilis'' P.Delforge - now a synonym of ''Epipactis persica'' subsp. ''exilis'' (P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''Epipactis flaminia'' (EC. Europe) - synonym of ''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''flaminia'' (P.R.Savelli & Aless.) Kreutz
*''Epipactis flava'' (Laos, Thailand).
*''Epipactis futakii'' (EC. Europe) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''futakii'' (Mered'a & Potek) P.Delforge
[[Image:Epipactis gigantea.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Giant helleborine (''Epipactis gigantea'')]]
*''[[Epipactis gigantea]]'' : '''Stream Orchid, Chatterbox, Giant Helleborine''' (W. Canada to N. Mexico).
*''Epipactis greuteri'' H.Baumann & Künkele (Greece).
**''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''flaminia'' (P.R.Savelli & Aless.) Kreutz
**''Epipactis greuteri'' var. ''preinensis'' (Seiser) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis greuteri'' subsp. ''preinensis'' (Austria)
*''Epipactis guegelii'' (Romania).
*''Epipactis halacsyi'' Robatsch (Greece) - now basionym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''halacsyi''
**''Epipactis halacsyi'' subsp. ''degenii'' (Szentp. & Mónus) Kreutz
*''[[Epipactis helleborine]]'' (L.) Crantz : '''Broad-leaved Helleborine''' (N. Africa, Europe to C. China).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''bithynica'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''helleborine'' (N. Africa, Europe to C. China).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''latina'' (Italy to NW. Balkan Pen).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''leutei'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''minor'' R.Engel (France)
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''molochina'' (P.Delforge) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''neerlandica'' (W. Europe).
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''orbicularis'' (C. Europe) synonym of ''Epipactis distans'' Arvet-Touvet
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''schubertiorum'' (Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''transcaucasica'' (Caucasus). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''tremolsii'' (W. Medit.) Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''youngiana'' (A.J.Richards & A.F.Porter) Kreutz
*''Epipactis kleinii'' (S. France to E. Spain)
*''Epipactis komoricensis'' (EC. Europe) - now synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''komoricensis'' (Mered'a) Kreutz
*''Epipactis lapidocampi'' E.Klein & Laminger (Austria)
*''Epipactis latifolia'' All. nom. illeg. (synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'')
**''Epipactis latifolia'' lus. rosea Erdner - now synonym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''rosea'' (Erdner) Kreutz
*''[[Epipactis leptochila]]'' (Godfery) Godfery : '''Narrow-lipped Helleborine''' (Europe).
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''aspromontana'' (Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''cleistogama'' (C.Thomas) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''dinarica'' (S.Hertel & Riech.) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''futakii'' (Mered'a & Potek) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''komoricensis'' (Mered'a) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''leptochila'' (Europe).
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''maestrazgona'' (P.Delforge & Gévaudan) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''naousaensis'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''neglecta'' (WC. Europe). Hemicryptophyte or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis leptochila'' var. ''peitzii'' (H.Neumann & Wucherpf.) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''sancta'' (P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''Epipactis leutei'' (Austria) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''leutei'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis liestalensis'' (C. Europe).
*''Epipactis lusitanica'' (S. and N. Portugal)- now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''lusitanica'' (D.Tyteca) Kreutz
*''Epipactis maestrazgona'' P.Delforge & Gévaudan (Spain)
*''Epipactis magnibracteata'' (NC. China).
*''Epipactis mairei'' (Nepal to C. China)
*''Epipactis mecsekensis'' (Hungary) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''mecsekensis'' (A.Molnár & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis meridionalis'' H.Baumann & R.Lorenz (Sicilia to S. Italy).
*''Epipactis microphylla'' (Europe to Iran).
*''Epipactis molochina'' P.Delforge (Spain)
*''Epipactis moravica'' Batousek (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''moravica'' (Batousek) Kreutz
*''Epipactis muelleri'' (W. & C. Europe).
**''Epipactis muelleri'' subsp. ''cerritae'' (Sicilia).. Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis muelleri'' subsp. ''muelleri'' (W. & C. Europe) Rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis nauosaensis'' (Greece) - now a synonym of ''Epipactis leptochila'' subsp. ''naousaensis'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis nordeniorum'' Robatsch (Austria)
**''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''mecsekensis'' (A.Molnár & Robatsch) Kreutz
**''Epipactis nordeniorum'' subsp. ''moravica'' (Batousek) Kreutz
*''Epipactis ohwii'' (C. Taiwan).
*''Epipactis olympica'' (Greece).
*''[[Epipactis palustris]]'' : '''Marsh Helleborine, Marsh Orchid''' (Europe to Caucasus and Mongolia)
*''[[Epipactis papillosa]]'' (Russian Far East to Korea, [[Japan]])
*''Epipactis persica'' (Soó) Nannf. (SE. Europe to W. Pakistan)
**''Epipactis persica'' subsp. ''exilis'' (P.Delforge) Kreutz
*''[[Epipactis phyllanthes]]'' G.E.Sm. : '''Green-flowered Helleborine''' (W. & NW. Europe).
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' subsp. ''fageticola'' (C.E.Hermos.) Kreutz
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' var. ''olarionensis'' (France). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis phyllanthes'' var. ''phyllanthes'' (W. & NW. Europe)
*''Epipactis placentina'' (Switzerland to Italy).
*''Epipactis pollinensis'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''pollinensis'' (B.Baumann & H.Baumann) Kreutz
*''Epipactis pontica'' (EC. Europe to N. Turkey).
*''Epipactis provincialis'' (France) .
*''Epipactis pseudopurpurata'' (Slovakia) - ''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pseudopurpurata'' (Mered'a) Kreutz
*''Epipactis rechingeri'' (N. Iran.
*''Epipactis rhodanensis'' (France to Austria).
*''Epipactis robatschiana'' Bartolo, D'Emerico, Pulv., Terrasi & Stuto (Italy)
*''Epipactis royleana'' (E. Afghanistan to Himalaya).
*''Epipactis schubertiorum'' (Italy) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' subsp. ''schubertiorum'' (Bartolo, Pulv. & Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis spiridonovii'' (Bulgaria) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''spiridonovii'' (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz
*''Epipactis stellifera'' (Switzerland).
*''Epipactis subclausa'' (Greece) - now synonym of ''Epipactis atrorubens'' subsp. ''subclausa'' (Robatsch) Kreutz
*''Epipactis tallosii'' (Slovakia, Hungary).
*''Epipactis tenii'' (China).
*''Epipactis thessala'' (N. & C. Greece).
*''Epipactis thunbergii'' (S. Russian Far East to Korea, Japan to Nansei-shoto).
*''Epipactis tremolsii'' Pau
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''densifolia'' (W.Hahn, Passin & R.Wegener) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' var. ''duriensis'' (Bernardos, D.Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich) P.Delforge
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''heraclea'' (P.Delforge & Kreutz) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''lusitanica'' (D.Tyteca) Kreutz
**''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''turcica'' (Kreutz) Kreutz
*''Epipactis troodi'' (Cyprus, Turkey ).
*''Epipactis turcica'' (E. Aegean Is. to Turkey) - now synonym of ''Epipactis tremolsii'' subsp. ''turcica'' (Kreutz) Kreutz
*''Epipactis turcomanica'' (C. Asia).
*''Epipactis ulugurica'' (Tanzania) .
*''[[Epipactis veratrifolia]]'' : '''Scarce Marsh Helleborine''' (Caucasus to Somalia and SC. China).
*''[[Epipactis viridiflora]]'' (Hoffm.) Krock: '''Clustered Helleborine, Violet Helleborine''' (Europe).
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''halacsyi'' (Robatsch) B.Baumann & H.Baumann (2005) (Greece)
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pollinensis'' (B.Baumann & H.Baumann) B.Baumann & H.Baumann (2005) (Italy)
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' subsp. ''pseudopurpurata'' (Mered'a) Kreutz
**''Epipactis viridiflora'' var. ''rosea'' (Erdner) Kreutz
*''Epipactis xanthophaea'' (China).
*''[[Epipactis youngiana]]'' : '''Young's Helleborine''' (Great Britain) - now synonym of ''Epipactis helleborine'' var. ''youngiana'' (A.J.Richards & A.F.Porter) Kreutz

== Hybrids ==

*''Epipactis × amigoi'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. kleinii'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × barlae'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. microphylla'') (C. Europe).
*''Epipactis × barreana'' (''E. latina'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Italy).
*''Epipactis × breinerorum'' (''E. helleborine'' subsp. ''helleborine'' × ''E. greuteri'') (EC. Europe).
*''Epipactis × bruxellensis'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. phyllanthes'') (W. Europe).
*''Epipactis × capellonensis'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. latina'') (Italy).
*''Epipactis × cardonneae'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. kleinii'') (W. Europe).
*''Epipactis × conquensis'' (''E. cardina'' × ''E. kleinii'') (Spain).
*''Epipactis × gerbaudiorum'' (''E. provincialis'' × ''E. tremolsii'') (France)
*''Epipactis × gevaudanii'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. rhodanensis'') (France).
*''Epipactis × graberi'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. microphylla'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × heterogama'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis x nicolosii'' M.P.Grasso & Grillo (. (E. helleborine (L.) Crantz x E. meridionalis H.Baumann & R.Lorenz) (Sicilia)
*''Epipactis × populetorum'' ( ''E. helleborine'' × ''E. hispanica'') (Spain).
*''Epipactis × pupplingensis'' ( ''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. palustris'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × reinekei'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. muelleri'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis x robatschii'' Gévaudan & P.Delforge (''E. bugacensis'' Robatsch x ''E. atrorubens'' (Hoffm.) Besser subvar. ''borbasii'' )
*''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. helleborine'') (Europe).
**''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' nothosubsp. ''fleischmannii'' (''E. atrorubens'' × ''E. helleborine'' subsp. ''orbicularis'') (Europe). Hemicryptophye or rhizome geophyte
**''Epipactis × schmalhausenii'' nothosubsp. ''schmalhausenii'' (Europe). Rhizome geophyte
*''Epipactis × schulzei'' (Europe).
*''Epipactis × soguksuensis''(''E. helleborine'' × ''E. turcica'') (Turkey).
*''Epipactis × stephensonii'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. leptochila'') (Europe).
*''Epipactis × trikalana'' (''E. helleborine'' × ''E. thessala'') (Greece).
*''Epipactis × vermionensis'' (''E. gracilis'' × ''E. helleborine'') (Greece).

{{Commons|Epipactis|Epipactis}}

[[Category:Orchid genera]]
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