THE BROAD-LEAVED HELLEBORINE
IN NORTH-EAST SUFFOLK
The broad-leaved helleborine has always been a scarce
species in Suffolk, and, according to The Orchids of Suffolk (Sanford,
1991), between 1980 and 1990 it was recorded in only four tetrads in the northeast
of the county. Its rarity in Suffolk is mirrored in Norfolk: A Flora of
Norfolk (Beckett and Bull, 1999) records it in only 21 tetrads. Summerhayes
in Wild orchids of Britain (1968) states that this species grows in a
greater variety of situations than any other British orchid except possibly the
common twayblade and the common spotted orchid. 
Summerhayes also says ‘it is
one of the very few of our orchids that appears to flourish on both calcareous
and acid soils’. So it is somewhat of a mystery why it is scarce in Suffolk,
especially as it is a robust and deep-rooted species, is not particular about
soil pH, and is tolerant of deep shade. Apparently it is pollinated solely by
wasps, so maybe this has something to do with its erratic distribution. Sanford
(1991) observes that individual sites (in Suffolk) rarely contain more than one
or two plants. He also states that in recent years ‘quite large numbers’ have
been found at Brandon and Santon Downham, although presumably these numbers are
rare and usually restricted to conifer plantations.
However, in the last few years the Lowestoft area of
northeast Suffolk has seen a large increase in numbers of the broad-leaved
helleborine at, encouragingly, a few new sites.
In 2004 the established site at Corton still had good
numbers. The plants are often quite stunted owing to the deep shade at this
site. Thirty-one flowering spikes were counted in July 2004, and there were
undoubtedly more, as the species is not particularly obvious. A new site at
North Cove has a large population of helleborines growing under pines and oaks.
Apparently the species is a recent arrival here and according to the warden was
not present five years ago. A count in 2004 revealed an impressive total of 81
spikes. At this site the flowers are often lost early, presumably eaten by
muntjacs. Another colony at Gunton has 27 flower spikes in an excellent area
that has seven species of orchid in all.
There could still be many more undiscovered broad-leaved
helleborines elsewhere in Suffolk as it can be a difficult species to find,
especially when not in flower. Numbers at the three sites mentioned have all
increased since 2003, so the future for this unobtrusive orchid looks
promising.
References
Beckett, G. & Bull, A.L. 1999 A Flora of Norfolk, Gillian
Beckett, Norwich
Sanford, M.N. 1991 The Orchids of Suffolk. Suffolk
Naturalists’ Society, Ipswich
Summerhayes, V.S.1968 Wild Orchids of Britain. 2nd
Ed. Collins, New Naturalist, London
Ricky Fairhead,
8 Sharon Drive, Lowestoft,
NR32 4EE
© 2004 Suffolk Naturalists' Society
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