A bizarre, leafless orchid with large blossoms which grows in the mould of damp forests.

The blossoms appear only in very moist springs. They are beautifully white and pink and furthermore upside-down. Like the blossoms of Nigritella, the seed-vessel doesn't turn around, so the lip is pointing upwards.

The absence of leaves and chlorophyll indicates that this is a so-called saprophytic orchid which requires a mycorrhiza fungus even in the adult stage. For this reason, Epipogium can't be cultivated.