Epipactis
palustris, suoneidonvaippa
Epipactis palustris is a rarity of southern Finland. It has grown
in total in more than 50 places in Finland, but now it is known to grow
only in less than 30 places. I have myself seeked it from two localities
where it has now died from. More than half of the findings of this species
are from Ahvenanmaa, others from southern and eastern Finland and it is
now also found from Tervola in Lapland. It needs lime. It is no wonder
that this orchid is rare in Finland; we have very few open, limey marshes
which don´t get frosts in spring. It has now found new way for its
spreading, and the species is now known from several road-sides in the
continent. It has also be found near to some limestone-mines. 
The
plant starts growing late, sometimes as late as in June, and can´t
take any frosts. It is also very demanding about light. It does not stand
too much shadow, but direct sunshine is also bad for it. Perfect place
for this Epipactis would be a small, limey, protected (from both
frosts - by surrounding woods etc. - and from trampling people - by protecting
the place with law) bog with only few brushes and also lot of water. It
needs grazing in order to keep the brushes away from it, but it does not
stand being cutted. That is why we can only be sorry that one of the best-known
localitites of 
this
species in Finland, road-side-place in Espoo, was "cleaned" along with
the rest of the road. The plant will propably survive after this awful
act, but flowering in the few following years will propably be guite small.
Fortunately the road-workers have been now given a lesson not to ignore
this species.
The species is protected in Finland, including Ahvenanmaa.
It flowers in July.
The species spreads with its wide rhizome. The stem is guite small, only about 30 cm (12", even up to 70 cm or 28") heigh, but the flowers are large. Leaves are along the stem, and they are plicate. The flowers are on the one-sided loose inflorescense. Flowers are pink with beautyful marks, and there is no doupt that this is one of the most beautyful of all Finnish orchids and plants.
Wasps take care from the pollinating. There is nectar in the lip, which makes the insects "drunk", and in that condition they try to find more and more flowers.
