Photos: Black Head, the Burren, Co. Clare

Dark-red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens Cuaichín dearg Family: Orchidaceae Flowering June-early August. Perennial. Native. Lax, one-sided spike of rich purplish-red, slightly-drooping flowers, the lip with two wrinkled bosses. The ovary is hairy. Leaves are folded, keeled and usually more/less in two rows. Downy stems, 15-30cm tall. Paler red or greenish flowers can occur and E. atrorubens var. lutescens has buff or yellowish flowers. Rare, only found in Co. Clare and Co. Galway in rock crevices and on rocky ground over limestone.

Dark-red Helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens, Cuaichín dearg