Epipactis gigantea (Stream orchid)

The second stop on the first day of our field trips was just down the road a few miles from the California Lady's-slipper orchid site.

Epipactis gigantea does have a requirement for water nearby. At one location, we found a number of plants right next to a small stream. Just down the road, there were many more plants along an embankment and in a wet seepy depression.

I think the flowers are quite beautiful although I had to spend more time photographing them than I preferrd because of the wind and the harsh sunlight. Having said that, I really love the way the flowers present themselves all lined up and facing the same direction...

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