So much has been written about this plant, the Holy Grail of orchid-hunters, that it is difficult to add much. It is classified in Britain as Critically Endangered. The Ghost Orchid 'flirts' with extinction, and every time we think we've seen the last of it somebody finds it again. Originally recorded in 1854 on the border of Hereford and Worcester, there have been considerable gaps in subsequent reports with the last one occuring in 2009 just after it had finally been declared extinct. The Ghost Orchid is dependent throughout its life on a relationship with a fungus because, being devoid of chlorophyll, it is unable to produce the nutrients it requires for survival. The Ghost Orchid grows in dark oak woodland, where it emerges from a deep mat of decaying leaves. It has, however, been known to occur in rather lighter conditions, but it would probably not survive for long in competition with the other plants that quickly colonise brighter habitats. In mainland Europe this orchid has a range extending from Scandinavia in the north to Greece and Italy in the south. It is rare and declining in numbers throughout its range.

Distribution Map		Key Features
	Records for the Ghost Orchid from BSBI are shown on the map with most recent in front. (Hover the mouse over the small map to expand it.) CLICK HERE to visit the BSBI website page for updated data and maps with separated data for individual record periods.	Plant: up to 12cm but exceptionally over 20cm. Stem translucent white washed pinkish-brown, swollen at the base. Above the uppermost flower the stem extends to a curious small non-flower bearing 'spur'. Leaves: no green leaves, but a few scales at the base of the stem and 1 or 2 above. Bracts: small, translucent and somewhat papery. Flowers: 2 to 4 flowers, with the spur and lip at the top of the flower creating an upside-down appearance. The narrow, curved sepals and petals are very pale yellow with red dots and dashes. The lip is white to pink and divided into two sections. The flowers are variously reported to smell pleasantly of vanilla or unpleasantly foetid.

Image Gallery for Ghost Orchid Epipogium aphyllum