Cephalanthera, abbreviated Ceph in horticultural trade, is a genus of mostly terrestrial orchids. Members of this genus have rhizomes rather than tubers. About 15 species are currently recognized, most of them native to Europe and Asia.[1][2] The only species found in the wild in North America is Cephalanthera austiniae, the phantom orchid or snow orchid.[3][4] Ecologically, this species is partially myco-heterotrophic. Some of the Eurasian species hybridise.

Cephalanthera
Sword-leaved helleborine, (Cephalanthera longifolia)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Neottieae
Genus: Cephalanthera
Rich.
Type species
Cephalanthera damasonium
(Mill.) Druce
Synonyms[1]
  • Callithronum Ehrh.
  • Lonchophyllum Ehrh.
  • Xiphophyllum Ehrh.
  • Dorycheile Rchb.
  • Eburophyton A.Heller
  • Tangtsinia S.C.Chen

Several of the European species have common names including the word "helleborine", though orchids in other genera are also called helleborines. In addition to those listed here, very large numbers of other specific names will be found in the older literature, but these are almost all synonyms for the best known species such as C. longifolia or C. damasonium, the European white helleborine.

Species accepted as of May 2014 are:[1]

References

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