Birds Nest Orchid

Birdsnest Orchid or Neottia nidus-avis is rather a special plant . It is a sacrophyte, which means that it is a plant without chlorophyll which lives on humus - decayed vegetation. Such plants often live in the darker areas of woodlands and forests where there is little competition from other species. the plant lives in partnership (symbiosis) with a fungus which can digest the vegetation and passes some of the nutrients to the Orchid, in return the Orchid manufactures certain complex chemicals for its partner. Instead of leaves, the erect stem has scale-like sheaths, which overlap each other. The numerous flowers have rather a sickly scent. They are yellowish brownish, but occasionally may be grey-brown. The plant is up to 35 cm high and blooms in May - July . the original home of the Birds nest orchid is the British Isles.