Bird's-nest Orchid, Neottia nidus-avis today at Box Hill, Surrey.

The flowers of these Bird's-nest Orchids , Neottia nidus-avis, were well past their best, yet a delight to find underneath beech trees at Box Hill in Surrey.

The Bird's-nest Orchid is named from the tangle of roots underground.  It has no chlorophyll and spends its life underground except when it puts up a flower spike.  It is saprophytic, depending on mychorizal fungi to provide nutrient from decaying organic matter.

Some of the flowers had already developed seed capsules.