Violet Helleborine (Epipactis purpurata) var. rosea, stack of 5 images
The utterly exquisite chlorophyll-lacking form of the (beautiful in its own right) violet helleborine. The books say that lacking chlorophyll it cannot photosynthesise, but I suspect that some of the red pigments that presumably contribute to the pink colouration must be carotenoids or similar, and therefore capable of photosynthesis. This would make sense given the greenish light on the forest floor, although much of its nutrition is undoubtedly provided willingly or otherwise by symbiotically-associated fungi. The location was very kindly supplied confidentially by an anonymous provider! Buckinghamshire.
Violet Helleborine (Epipactis purpurata) var. rosea, stack of 5 images
The utterly exquisite chlorophyll-lacking form of the (beautiful in its own right) violet helleborine. The books say that lacking chlorophyll it cannot photosynthesise, but I suspect that some of the red pigments that presumably contribute to the pink colouration must be carotenoids or similar, and therefore capable of photosynthesis. This would make sense given the greenish light on the forest floor, although much of its nutrition is undoubtedly provided willingly or otherwise by symbiotically-associated fungi. The location was very kindly supplied confidentially by an anonymous provider! Buckinghamshire.