Epipactis

Terrestrial herb, occasionally saprophytic, with very short rhizomes, numerous fleshy roots and simple erect leafy stems. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, plicate. Inflorescence racemose; flowers usually dull reddish or greenish, pedicelled. Sepals and petals free. Lip with no spur, but with hypochile forming a nectar-containing cup; hypochile articulated to epichile by a narrow joint. Column short, flat or concave in front, with a shallow cup at apex; anther free, 2-celled, hinged at back of column apex, behind stigma and rostellum; pollinia 2, attached near rostellum apex, each longitudinally divided, caudicles absent; pollen grains in friable masses loosely bound by fine threads. Stigma broad, with large, globular rostellum placed centrally above it.