Epipactis Atrorubens and More: February 2018

Atrorubens - Bicolor variant with
White/Cream Epichile and Boss Specimens (12 specimens)

I found my first bicolor specimens back in 2014 when I actually found two specimens in that first year and since then the numbers have grown to around 30 and still coming through in relation to good bicolor specimens. So as far as Hutton Roof is concerned "the bicolor" variety is new to the local area, although I have learnt it is not new to other local nearby localities. To make things even more complicated there are several areas of variability within the bicolor group eg: plants showing white or cream epichiles and bosses, very dark sepalled and very light sepalled. I will show examples of these differences shortly within the actual "bicolor" pages.

For now I want to concentrate more on just the white/cream bosses specimens of which you can see up to twelve examples which we have within my small survey area of Hutton Roof and described below.

It first came to my notice in 2016 that we seemed to be getting more and more of the white/cream epichile/boss specimens and even more were recorded during 2017.

One thing I am aware of is that this White/Cream epichile and boss feature seems to be retained purely within the bicolor variety, I am not seeing it reproduced in classic atrorubens.

Another interesting point, I have been fortunate to observe the same specimens now for over at least 3-6 years, and this white/cream epichile boss feature is retained every year without any weakening or strengthening to my knowledge. It seems it is a permanent feature of the plant.

Another interesting feature in relation to its white/cream epichile and bosses is that at least 9 of our 12 do have a faintest of pink washes overlayering the bosses, together with a very faint apple green colour which can start from high up and behind the bosses and come right down the flower from both sides to the tip of the epichile or it can just follow the midrib position. These faint washes seem to be seen in the following specimens: 33,17d,55l,66,73,40b,55c,55o and 8b. It is not clearly seen in the following specimens: 74,9p,55q.

The epichile crenulations to the bottom of the epichile seem to be more prominent in these specimens and obviously make it a strong atroruben indicator

Here now are all twelve specimens which have both a white/cream epichile and light bosses:

Specimen 33
var: bicolor
(with white epichile/cream epichile and bosses
also shows a slight red flush and apple green
midrib).

This was my very first specimen back in 2016
that I noticed had the light epichile and bosses feature and retained this in each year since. 33 resides to
the base of a small hazel tree and does have
3 more bi-colors within the vicinity, one twin and a single, yet none of these have the white/cream feature.

Here is a photo from July 2020 from which you can
see the same white/cream epichile and boss features

Specimen 74

(var: bicolor)

This is Specimen 74 which again is a var bicolor which shows a very light epichile and boss feature. This photo is from 2016 and I recorded a similar situation the following year 2017. Sadly the plant has struggled in the last 3 years Suffering from drought in 2018 causing premature dieback and in 2020 did come through rather stunted but then taken down before the inflorescence had chance to grow.

Specimen 17d (17e,17f)
(Var: bicolor of a light feature)

A lovely plant found by Pauline and Ian Mellor Greenhalgh back in 2017 when it came through as a trio,
since 2018 sadly it has come through but only as a single plant, although in 2020 a second but seedling
started to show at the base. 2020 produced an attack of black aphid.

Again you will note it is another bicolor variant, but
very light feature which is not replicated throughout
Hutton Roof. Please note the cream couloured
epichile and boss throughout all flowers, again
there is the slightest tint of red and again that midrib
apple green colour.

Specimen 17d (PMG)

Photo: 2017 Hutton Roof

Specimen 55L

Var: bicolor

(with light epichile and boss feature)

The beautiful small 55L which was only found in 2019 is tucked away down a gryke and quite close to a small hazel bush, and almost direct in West alignment to Specimen 55. It is a bicolor variant together with light epichile and boss features as can be seen from the following photograph.

Epipactis atrorubens var: bicolor - Specimen 55L (Click over to enlarge)
Photo: 17th July 2019 - Hutton Roof
This photo shows the light coloured epichile and boss features

Epipactis atrorubens var: bicolor - Specimen 55L (Click over to enlarge)

Photo: 17th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

This photo shows the full plant

Epipactis atrorubens var: bicolor Specimen 55L (Click over to enlarge)

Photo: 17th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

This photo shows the plant in relation to a near hazel etc

Specimen 66
Var: bicolor
unusual to see on a light green stem
also the epichile and boss has retained
a cream colour now for at least 4 years.

Specimen 73a

var: bicolor

a small plant which again shows

the light features to the epichile and boss

found in 2017, never showed since

Specimen 73a Click over to enlarge

9p
var: bicolor
This little beauty has shown the same size
together with the cream epichile and bosses
since I found it back in 2014.
(my very first bi-color)