Varietal forms of Epipactis atrorubens on Hutton Roof

Some of the varietal forms of
Epipactis atrorubens which we have
on Hutton Roof


Top Row: The regular Classic Atrorubens on HR, Bicolor, Lutescens and Pallens
Bottom Row: Typical Hyperchromic on HR, 17d or PMG which shows the duller brown with lovely cream epichile and boss examples, A lovely 9 family specimen with light green stem against red flowers and finally our branched stem specimen found 2019


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Specimen 17d
(unamed variety)


Specimen 17d - Epipactis atrorubens
Photo taken on Hutton Roof 2017

This plant was discovered back in 2017 and came up as a lovely trio, 
yet sadly in 2018 the plant was affected by the severe drought which sent the plant into a dieback situation.  In 2019 it has come through but only as a single plant Nos 17e and 17f have now been lost. 

The variation is defined by several interesting pointers namely:

The outer sepals are showing mainly a light red general main colour and the outer petals show a yellowish background colour also slightly washed in a lighter red, although this shows lighter than the sepals. Also at the point of the tip is a light yellow. 

The inner sepals are showing a mixture of colour with a main medium red showing for 75% of the sepal with the final 25% is a yellow colour with slight red wash

The inner petals are showing a mixture of colour with a general mix of both red and yellow

The Epichile and fluffy bosses are predominently a cream colour in general with occasional tints here and there of lemon or pinkish/red. 

The hyperchile is a lemon colour on the outer with a dark brown inner. As a succulent look.

The ovaries stand out with a fine hairy ridged dark purple/brown with a look like a frost covering.

The pedicel  is of the same colour as the ovaries eg: dark purple/brown

The stem is light to mid green in colour covered with fine hairs with a look like a frost covering.

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Specimen Escarp West - Red Rib (bicolor)
(unamed variety)


Epipactis atrorubens (Click over to enlarge)
Photo: Hutton Roof on 13th July 2017

This is a lovely plant that comes through with similar form each year since finding back in July 2017.

The varietal form is determined with a bicolor form together with the expressive red/purple midrib showing down the centre of the yellow petals

The outer sepals are showing mainly a strong deep purplish red general main colour  the outer petals show a yellowish general background colour which then goes on to show a red/purple for about 25% at the base of the yellow petal, and then shows a strong purple/red central midrib line running along the centre of the petal.  

The ovaries stand out with a fine hairy ridged dark purple/brown with a look like a frost covering.

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Specimen Escarp 15
(unamed variety)


Epipactis atrorubens var: Escarp 15
Photo: Hutton Roof on 8th July 2017

This is a lovely little plant that came through back in 2017, although it has as yet not come through again. 

The varietal form is made up with yellow flowers, yet the epichile and bosses are made up in a more translucent light purple colour. Sadly the specimen was aged and more difficult to asses colour combinations.

The outer sepals are of yellow colour and more deepened darker than the sepals, in some instances the sepals are also showing a red wash covering over the yellow (but only recognised in one or two of the lower flower areas). The photo does show that small red dots could be present, but sadly cannot be confirmed from this photo.

The outer petals are distinctly a pallid yellow in appearance and are lighter in shade in contract to the sepals. There maybe limited red staining on the petals but think this is localised to the midrib area. 

The ovaries are ridged, and lemony green in appearance are also finely covered with light hairs giving the appearnce of frost.

The pedicel  is of the same colour as the ovaries eg: lemony green

The stem is light green in appearance are also finely covered with light hairs giving the appearance of frost.

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Specimen 17
(unamed variety)


Epipactis atrorubens var
Photo: Hutton Roof on 12th July 2017

This is specimen No.17 a lovely specimen which does not seem to have come through in both 2018 or 2019

The varietal form is made up of a light red wash covering the underlying yellow showing through in both sepal and petal, standing out against a light green lightly hairy ovary and stem.

The outer sepal - is showing a lightly red wash covering a underlying main yellow coloured sepal with increased red line division features especially noticed in the upper sepal

The outer petal  - is yellow at the very tip with a slightly underlying main colour then washed with a light red wash throughout.

The epichile and bosses - are a pinky colour to the outer sides of the epichile, whilst a more pinky red colour could describe the ruffled bosses

The hyperchile - is lemon colour and succulent texture

The ovary - is a lemon green colour 

The stem - is a light green

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Specimen: Albiflora
(named variety)


Epipactis atrorubens var Albiflora
Photo: Hutton Roof on 10th July 2016

This is a beautiful pallid variety named as Albiflora. I first found this plant on 1st July 2017, on visiting again on the 7th July along with Grahame Preston and on his suggestion, it was agreed the flower was representative of this variety and subsequently there on named 'albiflora'

The varietal form is made up of pallid features and colours with the upper plant showing of green, white and transparent, although in the lower section of the plant you do get red/purple on the lower stems and especially to the basal leaf areas etc


Outer sepal - Light green

Outer petal - Light green
Inner sepal - Light lemony/green
Inner petal - Light lemony/green

Epichile is white with white bosses and much serrated at lip

Anther is yellow
Pollinia is white
Viscidium is transparent
Hyperchile is lemon/green and succulent textured

Ovary is ridged light green with hairs giving frosty appearance
Pedicel is light green same follow in colour as ovary
Stem is Light Green and light hairs giving frosty appearance

Lower features:
Red staining to the lower stem approx 3" of the stem with further small red smudge trace at second stem/joint and a typical atrorubens basal leaf much stained to a purple/red

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Specimen 73a
(unamed variation)


Epipactis atrorubens var:
Photo: Hutton Roof 11th July 2017

This beautiful plant turned up in 2017, but was not seen the following year, I first of all had it listed as our Lutescens No.2 simply because of its 'fine' stature and only growing to about 10" and with strong similarity to the other one I initially called Lutescens especially because of it showing a cream epichile and bosses. 

The varietal forms are shown with a true bi-color flower together with a cream coloured epichile and boss, with  ridged ovary base colour of green with slight red wash. 

Outer sepals: light purplish/red
Outer petals: pale yellow with washed red to 25% of lower base and also a slight red line to mid-rib
Inner Sepal: lightly red washed
Inner Petal: light Yellow 
Outer hyperchile: Lemon with succulent texture
Epichile and Bosses: Cream
Ovarys: base light green lightly washed with red giving it a brown look
Stem mid-green

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Specimen 73b
(unamed variety)






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Specimen 74 (bicolor)
(unamed variety)



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Specimen 9?



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Specimen 55a No.2



Specimen ?
(Unamed variety)



Specimen ?
(Unamed variety)







Photo: 16th July 2019 - Hutton Roof
Stunning epichile

A beauty Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine)
Photo: 16th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Stunning epichile


A beauty Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine)
Photo: 16th July 2019 - Hutton Roof
Stunning epichile

Some superb variation photos from other parts of
Europe can be found by clicking over this link, then go
into left column and click over atrorubens:
 http://www.aho-bayern.de/epipactis/fs_epipactis_1.html