Bird’s-Nest Orchid Neottia Nidus-avis Lower Wood Gloucestershire May 2016. This species has no chlorophyll because it derives its nutrition from a saprophytic fungus that it hosts in tangled bird’s-nest like roots. Hence its name. Because it doesn’t need sunlight it can grow in deep shade. This plant was seen in an oak / ash wood, where as most images in the gallery were taken in under a dense beech canopy at Buckholt Wood.
It varies considerably in terms of height but is very distinct as an orchid. It is related to the Twayblades and a close look at the flowers confirms this