What is "helleborine"

n. Any of a number of species of orchid of the genera (taxlink Epipactis genus noshow=1) and (taxlink Cephalanthera genus noshow=1).

1. n. any of several small temperate and tropical orchids having mottled or striped leaves and spikes of small yellowish-white flowers in a twisted raceme [syn: rattlesnake plantain]

2. any of various orchids of the genus Epipactis

3. any of several orchids of the genus Cephalanthera

Helleborine is the common name for a number of species of orchid. It does not correspond to any currently used taxonomic category. Some of the plants called helleborines are classified in the genus Epipactis, some in genus Cephalanthera. A genus Helleborine was formerly recognised but has now been absorbed into the Grass pink genus Calapogon.