The very rare Ghost Orchid, which is threatened with extinction, is really an amazing and exceptional orchid with many special features. The species shows a very wide range, but in this the Ghost Orchid occurs only dispersed and grows on its habitats mostly only as little groups, sometimes it is only to be found as an unique specimen. Even on its habitats the Ghost Orchid has only a sporadic appearance and could partly not to be found for years. The species is native from Central Europe to Japan and prefers shady, moist forests with a layer of moss and humus with a proportion of dead wood. The flowering time is from end of July to mid-August.

As one of the few European orchid species the plant is without any chlorophyll and so a myco-heterotrophic plant. Therefore the Ghost Orchid lives on its host fungi. The flowers are rather pale, rather great and not resupinate, what means that the lip doesn’t point downwards as is by orchids usual. In cases that an overground flower stays away, it is assumed that underground cleistogamy could happen, which means a self pollination of a closed flower.