***NY- Introduced***

    Helleborine holds the distinction of being the only introduced species of orchid in New York.  This small, unassuming plant is inconspicuous and easily overlooked.  There are usually small number of large, egg shaped leaves beneath a spike of purplish-green flowers.  The flower spike is very often one sided.  The individual flowers are usually nodding and have three sepals and two petals that look similar and then a folded lip.  Helleborine blooms in mid-summer and is usually found in rich woods.  The entire plant is usually less than 18" high and the pale, nodding flowers don't stand out so close to the forest floor.  Helleborine is much more common than it first appears, but due to its inconspicuous nature is seldom observed by those not specifically searching for wildflowers.