C. rubra was
first described by Richard from Iena (Germany) in 1767 and it name
alludes to the distinctive red (more accurately lilac/pink) colouration
of the flowers. Its common name is the Red Helleborine.
This is an orchid renowned for its propensity to vanish for years
on end in sites where it had previously been present in large numbers,
only to reappear as if nothing had occurred. The reasons for these
periodic disappearances are not known with certainty but studies
indicate that it is highly sensitive to even small changes in habitat
conditions with both light levels and competition appearing to be of
critical importance. During these periods of underground existence the
plant survives in a vegetative state depending entirely on mycorrhizal
based food production.
C. rubra
has a
huge distribution from the Atlantic to the Caspian sea and is perhaps
at its most frequent in temperate and sub Mediterranean regions,
becoming progressively local and uncommon in the north of its range. In
Britain it is a very rare orchid indeed, being known from only three
well known locations plus a limited number of less publicised sites all
in the southern half of the country.
It is very much a plant of shady positions and this most usually takes
the form of deciduous or mixed woodland, normally but not exclusively
on calcareous substrates. It is a very slender plant and easily
recognized as a Cephalanthera but where the pink colouration differentiates it from all the other predominantly white flowered members of the genus. C. kurdica and C. cucullata,
although pink flowered, do not have any significant overlap of
range. The pictures are from Var, southern France and Austria, dating
from the month of June.
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