A genus of orchids found in temperate regions, including species known as helleborine, characterized by small flowers and broad leaves.
From Greek epipactis, possibly from epi- 'upon' + pegnynai 'to fix' or 'to fasten,' referring to how the flower is attached. The exact Greek etymology is uncertain.
Epipactis is a genus of orchids that includes the 'broad-leaved helleborine,' and it's found all over Europe and Asia—many orchid names sound mystical because ancient botanists gave them poetic scientific names! This one might mean something like 'fastened upon.'
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