Neottia ovata: The solitary greenish specimen from the Incles Valley

The first specimen of Neottia ovata I have found in this valley! It was an isolated, but clearly visible, find right on the roadside verge. The specimen was tall and robust. This often discreet green orchid stood out among the vegetation in the lower area, near the Incles bus stop.

Neottia ovata, formerly known as Listera ovata, is a perennial terrestrial orchid with small yellowish-green flowers. This plant is characterized by having only a pair of broad, opposite leaves at the base of the stem, which are ovate in shape, hence its common name. It grows in damp woodlands, meadows, and scrub, often in shady locations. Its inflorescence is a loose spike of numerous flowers with a long, two-lobed lip.