bird’s-nest orchid

plant

Also known as: Neottia nidus-avis

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bird’s-nest orchid, (Neottia nidus-avis), nonphotosynthetic orchid (family Orchidaceae) native to Europe and North Africa. The bird’s-nest orchid lacks chlorophyll and obtains its food from decaying organic material with the help of mycorrhizae. The short underground stem and the mass of roots that resembles a bird’s nest both store food until about the ninth year, when the plant first blooms. Its numerous pale brown flowers are borne on a leafless spike.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.