Marsh hellebore

Plants
Habitat: Riparian forestsWell waters
Plant species: orchids

Marsh hellebore

The 20 - 50 cm tall marsh hellebore (Epipactis palustris) loves above all calcareous, nitrogen-salt-poor soils. It is at home in fens and meadows, moorlands, floodplain forests and dune valleys. Its leaves have a lanceolate shape. The flowers of this orchid hang loosely in a cluster. The outer petals are protruding and greenish to brownish in color, while the inner petals are white in color. Due to the wavy edge, the reddish veined lip becomes an optimal landing place for bees, wasps and flies. They easily reach the nectar with their short proboscises, which is secreted on the rear limb of the lip.

In the Tyrolean Lech Nature Park, the marsh hellebore can be found, among other places, at the Rieden Lake. The Riedener See is a small forest lake, which is surrounded by several bog sites. Therefore, this area represents an exceptional habitat, where not only the marsh hellebore can be found. This area is also home to endangered species, such as the Bilek's azure dragonfly. This strictly protected dragonfly is one of the rarest small dragonflies in Central Europe.
Likewise, the marsh hellebore is one of the fully protected plant species according to the Tyrolean Nature Conservation Ordinance 2006.

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