Photographs: Co. Clare

Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris Cuaichín corraigh Family: Orchidaceae Flowering June - July. Perennial. Native One-sided, lax racemes of pink-purplish flowers with a white lip. The sepals are purplish-brown, the petals white with reddish marks. Slender, downy ovary. Strap-shaped, keeled, mid-green leaves with prominent veinson slender downy stems that are often purple-flushed. To 60cm. Found on neutral to calcareous lake edges, dune slacks, wet meadows, marshes and fens. Locally frequent in parts of central Ireland but decreasing

Marsh Helleborine, Epipactis palustris, Cuaichín corraigh