Violet

An unexpected orchid find this morning - its the very scarce Violet Helleborine. Its a tall orchid - this one was a good 50cm high - and grows in dark woods. Despite its height it can be really difficult to spot. I found four this morning, they had all finished flowering except for this one which just has a few of its many flowers still open. The name comes not from the colour of the flowers - which are a washed out pale yellow - but the lower stem and the undersides of the leaves which have a violet tinge to them. I think it must be the least violet of anything called violet.