Canadian Native Orchids - Epipactis gigantea

Epipactis gigantea
Douglas ex Hooker [Epipactis americana] Lindley
Giant Helleborine
Chatterbox
Stream Orchid

Location British Columbia

Specific Habitat
Gravelly shores, sandbars, seepage banks, around fresh and salt springs. In the northern part of its range, it prefers hot springs.

Flowering Season March to August.

Description
Height to 1 m. from a short rhizome with fibrous roots.
Leaves: 4 Ð-12, ovate - lanceolate, plicate, alternately clasping the stem.
Raceme loose, up to 15 colorful flowers . Flowers greenish - yellow with purple veining; dorsal concave; lip divided into two portions by a central constriction; minute red warty elevations in centre of hypochile, apex pink with a pair of prominent fleshy orange calli. Epichile is hinged from the centre.

Comments
Plant is neither rare nor common. It is often locally abundant and very persistent, flourishing for decades in suitable habitats.
Syrphid flies are pollinators.

References
The Native Orchids of the United states and Canada excluding Florida

Habitat Plant Flower

Location	British Columbia
Specific Habitat	Gravelly shores, sandbars, seepage banks, around fresh and salt springs. In the northern part of its range, it prefers hot springs.
Flowering Season	March to August.
Description	Height to 1 m. from a short rhizome with fibrous roots. Leaves: 4 Ð-12, ovate - lanceolate, plicate, alternately clasping the stem. Raceme loose, up to 15 colorful flowers . Flowers greenish - yellow with purple veining; dorsal concave; lip divided into two portions by a central constriction; minute red warty elevations in centre of hypochile, apex pink with a pair of prominent fleshy orange calli. Epichile is hinged from the centre.
Comments	Plant is neither rare nor common. It is often locally abundant and very persistent, flourishing for decades in suitable habitats. Syrphid flies are pollinators.
References	The Native Orchids of the United states and Canada excluding Florida