Look at me!!!

Talk about a showy plant! This is one of our rare local orchids...and it is only about 75cm from a busy country road. Nevertheless, it has survived and flowered successfully for the last 8 years at least. It is Violet Helleborine, Epipactis purpurata, var. rosea. The normal E. purpurata (which grows just a few cm away) is a classic orchid of the densely shaded Chiltern beechwoods. It is greyish green with strong purple-brown streaking and although it clearly has some chlorophyll in the leaves and stem, it is adapted to survive in very dark situations where most of its energy requirements must come from its association with fuingi running through the woodland floor. This variety rosea takes this biological strategy to its extreme, having no chlorophyll at all, leading to this stunning bright pink foliage. Lots of people must see it (unlike the 'normal' orchid growing nearby) but so far it has not been dug up or destroyed by verge mowers - a real survivor.