Thursday, July 06, 2006
Most Think Them Difficult, But They're A Weed For Me
I've always been overtly contemptuous, but covertly jealous, of those gardeners who complain that various plants that are rare and difficult for others, keep seeding all over THEIR garden. However... there are four plants in the picture above; the only one I planted was the hepatica on the right. In a jumble next to it are volunteers: a small seedling that looks like a Japanese jack in the pulpit, possibly a twisted stalk on the left (Streptopus), and the plant with flower stalks in the middle is Epipactis helleborine, a European orchid, pictured in close-up below. To be truthful, this particular orchid is a seed-about (but a very nice weed). I'm quite full of myself right now... I think I'll have to wait until some other day to figure how the heck to separate all these plants. 
// posted by IBOY @ 8:51 PM 
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If your observation comes from Iowa City, this is first record from Johnson Co., Iowa and third county record for whole state.
I am botanist interested in history of Epipactis helleborine in America.
Could you inform me when do you observed this plant for first time?
I am botanist interested in history of Epipactis helleborine in America.
Could you inform me when do you observed this plant for first time?
# posted by 
: October 22, 2009
: October 22, 2009
My epipactis came into our garden, I'm sure, hiding in a pot of something I bought, and it's only in our garden. I know it's quite the pest even in Illinois, and I've thought about destroying it. So far it's only in the garden in a couple of well demarcated spots where it can't spread outside (plus the whole garden has a six foot fence around it). Do you still think I should off it? It wouldn't be a big loss.
Don
Don
You can at least send specimen to the nearest herbarium to document its presence in your place.
Six foot fence is nothing for helleborine as its tiny seeds can fly.
Six foot fence is nothing for helleborine as its tiny seeds can fly.
# posted by : November 21, 2009
: November 21, 2009
I just mentioned the fence in terms of the fact that it keeps deer out, who could track the seeds about.I think I'll just eradicate it next spring; no sense taking chances with the environment (I'm a voluntary property manager of a 40 acre woodland preserve, and spend hundreds of hours every year eradicating GM and other invasives there).
Don
Don
The species is not native but in no way can it be considered invasive. I'm in Montreal, Canada and the plant is well adapted in urban environment here. I also have met the species in natural forests out in the Laurentian Mountains or the Appalachians where it blends perfectly with the rest of the species, displacing none and gracing the place. Why would you eradicate it?
Roger... it certainly doesn't seem invasive here either, BUT it's categorized as a foreign invasive by many organizations (like the USDA). I know some folks in Illinois who say it's a thug there. Isn't there some old saying that every plant is a weed somewhere? I gather from some enquiries I've received that I might be the only spot in Iowa where it is growing; I'd hate to be the Typhoid Mary of helleborine in this state. Somebody from the Iowa State Herbarium is stopping by next summer to get a specimen, and I'll ask her advice. Until then, helleborine is on a short leash.
Don
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