The broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine subsp.tremolsii [= E.tremolsii]) is an orchid up to two feet tall. Its broad leaves are arranged in spiral along the stem until the inflorescence where they become small, narrow bracts. The plant is green with a reddish discoloration, though, mainly in flowers, not as intense as in Epipactis atrorubens.
The inflorescence has many small flowers. Every flower has acute, green petals and sepals, then the labellum. The labellum splits in two parts: the hypochile as a pot next to the base and after a narrow pass the flat or convex epichile.
Forest clearings are main habitat of broad-leaved epipactis (Epipactis helleborine).
The broad-leaved helleborine is largely distributed in the holartic region with several, not that clear subspecies. Epipactis helleborine subsp.tremolsii has broad, stiff leaves that slightly wrap the stem. It is found in the clearings of the evergreen woods in both mountain natural parks, Montserrat and Sant Llorenç del Munt i L’Obac. However, its presence in the plain (Pla de Bages) or in the northern of Bages is not known. Furthermore, in the clearings of oak and pine woods in the district of Moianès, maybe also in the north of district of Bages, there is Epipactis helleborine subsp.helleborine with not as wide leaves, long floral bracts and wider epichile.
[photos Jordi Badia (1st and 2nd) and Marta Queralt López Salvans (3rd and 4th)]