Epipactis gigantea – “Stream Orchid”

Also Known As: Giant Helleborine, Stream orchis
Family: Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Bloom Period: May-Jul
Form: Perennial herb
Habitat: Wet areas such as riverbanks, hot springs or moist meadows
Leaves: Lanceolate to wide-elliptic, decreasing in size as they climb the stem; alternate
Translation: “Epipactis” derives from the Greek “epipaktis” which is a milk-curdling property that some species in this genus supposedly have; “gigantea” is Latin for “gigantic.”
Notes: Spreads by rhizomes, which are stems that grow underground horizontally. This photo was taken in the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, where they grow along the boardwalk through the wetland.
Native American Uses: The Kayenta used the plant ceremonially in girls’ puberty rites and to purify newborn infants.
Animal Associations: Flowers are pollinated by Hoverflies, whose larvae feed on aphids.