Subtribe Limodorinae Rank Species | Family Orchidaceae Tribe Neottieae Higher classification Cephalanthera | |
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Similar Cephalanthera, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Orchids, Neottia nidus‑avis | ||
The White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium) is a species of orchid. It is widespread across much of Europe and the Middle East from England and Sweden to Russia and Iran; also Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Yunnan. It is the type species of the genus Cephalanthera.
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Pollination
The flowers of this species hardly open, because they are autogamous (self-pollinating). Before anthesis, the opening of the flower, the anther opens and the pollinia directly sink onto the stigmatic surface. Then pollen tubes start growing. This pollination mode enables the White helleborine to grow in deep shade, where the pollinators are almost absent.
Literature
References
Cephalanthera damasonium Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA