STATE: Epipactis qiqantea is currently listed by the 

 Montana Natural Heritage Program as "apparently 

 secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts 

 of its range" (over 100 occurrences; global rank 

 = G4) . In Montana, it is listed as "endangered in 

 state" (6-20 occurrences; state rank = S2) . These 

 Heritage Program ranks do not provide any direct 

 legal protection for this species. 



C. DESCRIPTION 



GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Giant helleborine 

 ( Epipactis qiqantea ) is a tall orchid with leafy 

 stems, which reach 3 feet in height. Abundant sword- 

 shaped leaves, to 8 inches long, clasp the tall, 

 usually unbranched stems. Numerous flowers are borne 

 in a leafy-bracted inflorescence at the tops of 

 stems. Flowers have a sac-like lip petal that is 

 reddish-brown. The two upper lance-shaped petals are 

 also reddish brown, but with a greenish tinge. Three 

 lance-shaped sepals subtend the flowers and are light 

 green with a brownish tinge. Epipactis qiqantea is a 

 perennial plant that grows from a rhizome each year. 

 In Montana this species usually flowers in June or 

 July. Capsules ripen later in the season, and release 

 many thousands of tiny seeds before the stems die 

 back to the rhizomes to overwinter. See Section V, 

 pp. 37-42, for color photos of plants and habitat. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Stems 1 to many from 



short rhizomes, mostly 3-7 (up to 12) dm. tall; 

 leaves numerous, sheathing, the lowest blades 

 almost lacking, gradually enlarged upwards, 

 almost glabrous to scabridulous-puberulent, 

 broadly elliptic-lanceolate, mostly 7-14 (19) 

 cm. long and 1.5-5 (7) cm. broad; flowers 3-15, 

 rather showy, raceme usually secund, bracts 

 usually reduced upwards, but even the uppermost 

 one usually exceeding the ovary; sepals coppery- 

 green, lightly brownish-veined, 12-16 mm. long; 

 petals similar to the sepals, but thinner, and 

 (at least venation) more brownish-purple; lip 

 15-20 mm. long, the sac with prominent, raised, 

 purplish lines leading to the base, three-lobed, 

 outer (basal) lobes prominent, porrect, the 

 blade (central lobe) about as long as the basal 

 lobes, curved downward somewhat, triangular- 

 ovate, tip flattened but with uprolled margins, 

 greenish-yellow, basal portion much thickened, 

 yellow, the margins thickened and erect, with 



