Neottia nidus-avis
Ecology
This saprophytic herb is most frequent in the deep humus of densely shaded Fagus woods on chalky soils. Less commonly it occurs in mixed deciduous woodland and mature Corylus coppices, on soils derived from limestones and base-rich clays and sands. Lowland.
Status
Trends
N. nidus-avis suffered a considerable decline throughout the 20th century, but particularly between 1930 and 1970, and especially in S.E. England. It is very vulnerable to habitat disruption, and most losses are probably due to changes in woodland management and coniferisation. It has not declined to the same extent in Ireland.
World Distribution
Eurosiberian Temperate element; also in E. Asia.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 2
Moisture (Ellenberg): 4
Reaction (Ellenberg): 7
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 5
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.5
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 15.2
Annual Precipitation (mm): 938
Height (cm): 47
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 742
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 99
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 0
Atlas Change Index: -0.91
JNCC Designations
PLANTATT - Attributes of British and Irish plants. (.zip 1455KB) This dataset was compiled and published in 2004, and last updated in November 2008. Download includes an Excel spreadsheet of the attributes, and a PDF explaining the background and nomenclature. Note that the PDF version is the booklet as published, whereas the Excel spreadsheet incorporates subsequent corrections. A hardcopy can be purchased from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Atlas text references
Atlas (335a)
.
1993. Wild orchids of Scotland.
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1988. The Irish Red Data Book. 1. Vascular Plants.
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1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols.
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1991. Wild orchids of Dorset.
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1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Volume 1. 2 vols.
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1991. The orchids of Suffolk.