Spontaneous albinos in European orchids

In rare occurrences, spontaneous fully albino individuals of Epipactis helleborine, Epipactis purpurata and Cephalanthera damasonium are growing and flowering as well as their photosynthetic counterparts. These albino plants of 3 mixotroph orchid species are entirely relying on the mycorrhizal symbiont for their nutrition providing the opportunity to study the physiological adaptations required for the loss of photosynthesis in plants.在极少数情况下，宽叶火烧兰（Epipactis helleborine）、紫花火烧兰（Epipactis purpurata）以及白缘头蕊兰（Cephalanthera damasonium）会出现自发完全白化个体，这些白化个体与其光合型个体一样能够正常生长并开花。这3种混合营养型兰科植物的白化个体完全依赖菌根共生体获取营养，为研究植物丧失光合功能所需的生理适应性提供了宝贵契机。