Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Neottia nidus-avis / bird’s-nest orchid

Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich.

bird’s-nest orchid (Orchidaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Neottia nidus-avis is a saprophytic orchid, with no leaves or green pigment; it grows in shady beech woods over limestone or chalk, most abundantly in southern England.

Sapperton (VC34: West Gloucestershire); 2022-05-31

 bird’s-nest orchid / Neottia nidus-avis: _Neottia nidus-avis_ is a <a href="parasite.html">saprophytic</a> orchid, with no leaves or green pigment; it grows in shady beech woods over limestone or chalk, most abundantly in southern England.

The fruits of Neottia nidus-avis are dry capsules containing huge numbers of tiny seeds.

Temple Guiting (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-06-21

 bird’s-nest orchid / Neottia nidus-avis: The fruits of _Neottia nidus-avis_ are dry capsules containing huge numbers of tiny seeds.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne