Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborines are just about at their best in our Chilterns beech woods. I went to check this one today, only about 300m outside the nature reserve. There is lots of suitable habitat within the reserve, but this one has flowered for years on a shaded bank alongside the road - less than 10cm from the asphelt! This is actually quite a favoured habitat in the Chilterns. Just a short distance along the road is another plant, this time the much rarer variety rosea, which lacks any chlorophyll, making the whole plant a vivid pink colour. It has shown again this year, but with very stunted growth.