Epipactis neglecta (Kuempel) Kuempel in southern Belgium | Epipactis neglecta (Kuempel) Kuempel dans le sud de la Belgique

An Epipactis station discovered in limestone beech forests on steep slopes of the Bajocian cuesta of Belgian Lorraine in 1980, and variously reported as Epipactis leptochila or aberrant, facultatively autogamous, Epipactis helleborine, is reidentified, in the light of newly available documents from Hercynian Germany, and of a survey of present understanding of the Epipactis leptochila group, as Epipactis neglecta. The group comprises three constellations. One is formed by Epipactis muelleri, Epipactis placentina, Epipactis peitzii, Epipactis komoricensis and northern British plants formerly included in Epipactis dunenxis. A second is constituted by Epipactis greuteri, Epipactis olympica, Epipactis nauosaensis, Epipactis flaminia, Epipactis aspromontana, Epipactis campeadorii. A third includes Epipactis leptochila, Epipactis provincialis, Epipactis neglecta. The main discriminating character of E. neglecta is the very narrow passage from hypochile to epichile, a character that is only shared by some taxa of the E. muelleri constellation, namely E. peitzii, E. komoricensis and the Holy Island and Tyne "dunensis" populations. The Belgian Lorraine station of E. neglecta was entirely typical of the species. It numbered at least 40 individuals. Subsequent considerable felling of mature trees on the entire slope that harboured the station and consequent dense shrubby and herbaceous regrowth seem to have led to its disappearance. Recent intensive searches have not revealed anyndividual at the location or in its vicinity. No Epipactis of any species was found except two individuals of Epipactis purpurata on the relatively undisturbed summital plateau of the cuesta, about 300 m from the former E. neglecta station. At least one other southern Belgian station of E. leptochila, s.l., harbours E. neglecta. Others still need the precise identity of their plants investigated.