2014 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[Xenya]

VHs/ Bog orchids:
Thanks for the tip about the site at Funtley, certainly couldn't be much nearer to Gosport. Will check it out in a few days; found some VHs at Noar Hill today, thanks to Fearnor's directions, and they were all still in bud, the ones that hadn't been chewed off at the top anyway! Must have just missed you Simon (Simon1953)!

Had to choose today between going to Noar Hill, or to New Forest to see if Bog Orchids are still in flower. Hope to visit New Forest tomorrow , does anyone know if there are still some there to see at Matley?
thanks,
Nicky

 

[Xenya]

Hi, Mike,
Great photos.

I am actually going to be in Ceredigion later this week, in the Tregaron area, so would be really grateful if you would PM me with details of how to find the remote bogs and the orchids, please. Have local OS maps, but no GPS.

Also interesting to see the BLHs around Aber.

Many thanks,
Nicky

 

[fgrsimon]

First Narrow Lipped flowering in Buckholt Woods Glos yesterday, found about 12 flowers altgether in two different areas, all but one still in bud.

Also saw Green Flowered Helleborine in Glos for the first time on Friday

...and today, the icing on the cake, I finally found Marsh Helleborines in Glos near the Wye Valley on the other side of the Severn. A very rare plant in Gloucestershire.

Also BLH starting to flower at various sites.

 

[JeanetteS]

Brilliant you found the Marsh Helleborines, Simon! I had a look at the Glos/SGlos Violet Hs yesterday and they are still in bud.

The BLH var. albiflora has also started flowering in South Glos.

 

[CornishExile]

In full flower at a couple of remote bogs/flushes in Ceredigion today. 4 spikes at Bryn Lluestydd and 1 at Alltgoch-y-Myndd. Last year I saw 2 and 4 respectively. Finally got the Sundew money shot!

Mike

Nice! They look *massive* compared to the Shetland plants... Which, even by Bog Orchid standards, are puny.

Jon

 

[muba]

possible BLH [I]viridiflora[/I] near Wrexham

I called at this site yesterday with the specific intention of locating a viridiflora that has been seen here before but not in 2013. So my judgement may be influenced by optimism. What do the experts think?

 

[muba]

BLH showing self-pollination?

At the same site was a small group of BLH that showed signs of self-pollination, much like GFH. None of the flowers were opening wide, unlike the others growing around and nearby, and the lower flower's ovaries were all showing signs of swelling, again unlike other BLH nearby. The plants involved all had the same flower colouration, while others in the same spot were clearly typical and had different colouration. Any opinions anybody?

 

[leptochila]

I called at this site yesterday with the specific intention of locating a viridiflora that has been seen here before but not in 2013. So my judgement may be influenced by optimism. What do the experts think?

Almost Steve! There appears to be a hint of colour on the outer surfaces of the sepals and the base of the flower stalks (pedicels) appear to be a light pinkish purple so it must have anthocyanin if only in very low amounts.

Mike

 

[leptochila]

At the same site was a small group of BLH that showed signs of self-pollination, much like GFH. None of the flowers were opening wide, unlike the others growing around and nearby, and the lower flower's ovaries were all showing signs of swelling, again unlike other BLH nearby. The plants involved all had the same flower colouration, while others in the same spot were clearly typical and had different colouration. Any opinions anybody?

This is very interesting indeed. Not only do the flowers seem to be autogamous (do you have any closer shots of the individual flowers to see the pollina falling down to confirm?) but the lips don't seem to be curving back like in Narrow-lipped and Green-flowered. If all of the flowers are in that barely open position, I doubt wasps could properly get in and do the job.

Mike

 

[leptochila]

Hi, Mike,
Great photos.

I am actually going to be in Ceredigion later this week, in the Tregaron area, so would be really grateful if you would PM me with details of how to find the remote bogs and the orchids, please. Have local OS maps, but no GPS.

Also interesting to see the BLHs around Aber.

Many thanks,
Nicky

Hi Nicky

They really are extremely hard to find and access isn't brilliant. There are some much more accessible (roadside) sites containing far larger populations in the Elan Valley just over the border in Powys that would be better. I'm going to check on them now so I'll pass on some details later this evening.

Mike

 

[Ghostly Vision]

At the same site was a small group of BLH that showed signs of self-pollination, much like GFH. None of the flowers were opening wide, unlike the others growing around and nearby, and the lower flower's ovaries were all showing signs of swelling, again unlike other BLH nearby. The plants involved all had the same flower colouration, while others in the same spot were clearly typical and had different colouration. Any opinions anybody?

Are they in a colony which has self-pollinating species?

Regards

Sean

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Almost Steve! There appears to be a hint of colour on the outer surfaces of the sepals and the base of the flower stalks (pedicels) appear to be a light pinkish purple so it must have anthocyanin if only in very low amounts.

Mike

Yes, we thought the same about the very slight pinkish tinge, but it is certainly close.

I thought that it might be interesting to compare a couple of photos which Elaine took at what I think is the same site as Steve's - in 2012. As Steve says, it did not flower last year. Not sure if this is the same plant, but we tentatively recorded it as var. viridiflora.

Martin

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Hi Nicky

They really are extremely hard to find and access isn't brilliant. There are some much more accessible (roadside) sites containing far larger populations in the Elan Valley just over the border in Powys that would be better. I'm going to check on them now so I'll pass on some details later this evening.

Mike

I would be very interested to hear how the Bog orchids are doing in the Elan Valley, Mike.

Martin

 

[muba]

Are they in a colony which has self-pollinating species?

Regards

Sean

No Sean. Orchidwise, apart from a few CSO there are only BLH in those woods - as far as I have noticed.

 

[muba]

As good a display of sancta as I have ever seen. I found twenty two plants in all in two separate colonies. Photos from a week ago.

A tip for those planning a visit there next year. Wear wellies regardless of how dry or damp it is. The dunes are infested with piri-piri burr, which attaches itself to any fabric or fabric-like clothing. You should remoce any attached to you to prevent its spread, which can take 30 minutes if you are diligent. It has a special liking for shoelaces. If you are wearing canvas footwear you can end up looking like you have hobbit-feet after walking through the slacks. We had to rescue a lark while was immobilised on the ground covered with these awful burrs.

 

[muba]

Yes, we thought the same about the very slight pinkish tinge, but it is certainly close.

I thought that it might be interesting to compare a couple of photos which Elaine took at what I think is the same site as Steve's - in 2012. As Steve says, it did not flower last year. Not sure if this is the same plant, but we tentatively recorded it as var. viridiflora.

Martin

I can see the faint tinge of of colour now; not apparent under the trees with poor light. I was concentrating more on lack of colour inside the epichile in situ. Martin, I have emailed you as to where 'my' plant was found.

Steve

 

[rmielcarek]

Violet helleborine

Although most of the plants at my local site for VH are still in bud, one stem today had a few open flowers.

Also there a couple of plants with variegated leaves.

Rich M

A couple more plants now in flower. The original plant has quite a few open flowers now, including this aberration with a column but no lip to speak of and only 4 perianth segments - all the other flowers on the stem seem OK. I've seen flowers like this at this site before, on a different plant a few years ago.

Rich M

 

[rmielcarek]

The BLH var. albiflora has also started flowering in South Glos.

It sticks out somewhat!

The flowers seem to be paler than last year.

Rich M

 

[muba]

Pyramidal oddity

Loooking through my photos from Lindisfarne last week this Pyramidal Orchid seemed odd. I couldn't put my finger on it until I realised that all the individual flowers are rotated by about 180 degrees; they are flowering upside down. Would this make insect pollination difficult or do they have special pollinators there?

 

[fgrsimon]

Loooking through my photos from Lindisfarne last week this Pyramidal Orchid seemed odd. I couldn't put my finger on it until I realised that all the individual flowers are rotated by about 180 degrees; they are flowering upside down. Would this make insect pollination difficult or do they have special pollinators there?

Ah... the rare Australian Pyramidal Orchid