2014 UK Orchids (3 Viewers)

[Ghostly Vision]

Looks like it'll bucket down in Marlow on saturday according to the forecast. How long do you reckon it takes them to appear after some decent rain? I'll play "Rain" by Status Quo in the car this week- might help to bring it on. Or maybe " There's A Ghost In My House" by R Dean Taylor. Then I'll go up to Marlow and take a look.

Hi Paul

Ghost forms a bud the previous season, it takes the moisture levels (along with continued fungal sustenance) to instigate that to flower. I don't think there would be an immediate response, but this is the kind of thing we are trying to establish by having frequency of visits.

The indicators for a flowering event are fungi in my opinion - that's why we are asking volunteers on the Ghost Orchid Project to record fungi concentrations as well as other indicator species.

I understand you have registered. If you can use the form to record as much information as possible, that will provide valuable data even if a Ghost is not found this season.

Cheers

Sean

 

[JCL]

RFI CLT Holkham

I move to Norwich tomorrow, so was thinking about Holkham for CLT once the boxes are unpacked. Has anybody been in the last week and can tell me their condition? I suspect they may be over...

thanks
James

 

[J Jones]

Violet Helleborines at Princes Risborough are looking very nice right now; others I saw in bud there in June have been munched. The Broad-leaved Helleborines along the road there are over.

The main part of my morning was spent butterflying at Aston Rowant, where a good number of overcooked Frogs were seen. They're much easier to see when they're going yellow!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[DEREK CHARLES]

Irish Ladys Tresses from ""new location" Co.Antrim. Thanks to Amy for the information.

d

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Nice Derek - would you share details by email?

How many plants?

Regards

Sean

 

[AdeKing]

Violet Helleborines in Dorset - Can anyone help?

I've seen lots of posts regarding Violet Helleborines, but was wondering whether anyone knows where they can be seen in Dorset.

I've read that they have been seen near to Sturminster Newton, and visited Girdlers Coppice yesterday but despite spending several hours searching could find no sign of any.

Are there any Dorset locals on here that might be able to help.
I'm also quite keen to see the var. rosea form of the Violet Helleborine (if that's what its still named). Can anyone help with a site that isn't too far flung from Dorset. I know they used to be at Princes Risborough, can anyone provide any directions for finding them there?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

 

[Bodhyfryd]

I've seen lots of posts regarding Violet Helleborines, but was wondering whether anyone knows where they can be seen in Dorset.

I've read that they have been seen near to Sturminster Newton, and visited Girdlers Coppice yesterday but despite spending several hours searching could find no sign of any.

Are there any Dorset locals on here that might be able to help.
I'm also quite keen to see the var. rosea form of the Violet Helleborine (if that's what its still named). Can anyone help with a site that isn't too far flung from Dorset. I know they used to be at Princes Risborough, can anyone provide any directions for finding them there?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

I will happily send you the location information, but you would need someone with up-to-date local information with regard to their flowering status this year.

Martin

 

[JCL]

I move to Norwich tomorrow, so was thinking about Holkham for CLT once the boxes are unpacked. Has anybody been in the last week and can tell me their condition? I suspect they may be over...

thanks
James

One Holkham CLT in exc condition yesterday but the other 39 had gone over.

 

[JeanetteS]

The violet helleborines in the Bristol area are still looking good - though that's quite far for you to travel. Sadly no rosea this year (due to snails).
Jeanette

I've seen lots of posts regarding Violet Helleborines, but was wondering whether anyone knows where they can be seen in Dorset.

I've read that they have been seen near to Sturminster Newton, and visited Girdlers Coppice yesterday but despite spending several hours searching could find no sign of any.

Are there any Dorset locals on here that might be able to help.
I'm also quite keen to see the var. rosea form of the Violet Helleborine (if that's what its still named). Can anyone help with a site that isn't too far flung from Dorset. I know they used to be at Princes Risborough, can anyone provide any directions for finding them there?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

 

[DEREK CHARLES]

I am not sure of the correct name for this? Irish Ladys Tresses heavily over-loaded at Lough Beg yesterday (both photos same Orchid)

derek

 

[rmielcarek]

The violet helleborines in the Bristol area are still looking good - though that's quite far for you to travel. Sadly no rosea this year (due to snails).
Jeanette

Jeanette

are there any 'funnies' amongst your population? I was having a look at the small population near me again this morning and I found a further dozen aberrant/mutant flowers, all on Violets.

Is there any formal name for flowers with the wrong number of perianth segments?

Rich M

 

[JeanetteS]

Hi Rich,
there were quite a few 'funnies'. I put a few photos up, but only one (nr 3) in the following post would fit that description (there were definitely more, I'll try to find the other photos):
http://framptonwildflowers.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/violet-helleborines-in-the-lower-woods/
I was quite surprised by the big differences in colouring and overall shape/appearance of the VHs. (since I'm still a bit of a novice, though).
Jeanette

Jeanette

are there any 'funnies' amongst your population? I was having a look at the small population near me again this morning and I found a further dozen aberrant/mutant flowers, all on Violets.

Is there any formal name for flowers with the wrong number of perianth segments?

Rich M

 

[Lorne]

I've seen lots of posts regarding Violet Helleborines, but was wondering whether anyone knows where they can be seen in Dorset.

I've read that they have been seen near to Sturminster Newton, and visited Girdlers Coppice yesterday but despite spending several hours searching could find no sign of any.

Are there any Dorset locals on here that might be able to help.
I'm also quite keen to see the var. rosea form of the Violet Helleborine (if that's what its still named). Can anyone help with a site that isn't too far flung from Dorset. I know they used to be at Princes Risborough, can anyone provide any directions for finding them there?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

Hi Adrian,I also went up to Girdlers Coppice at Sturminster Newton yesterday, & found none except poss. some gone over from last year.
I knew the site was one of Martin Jenkinson’s top sites from his “Wild Orchids of Dorset” book back in 1991. I searched there many times & nothing until poss. 2008 when I found 180 there! Unfortunately the DWT have decided to clear all the trees just where the Violet Helleborine were so that seems to have stopped them coming out again. Some years ago I found a few in Duncliffe Wood near Shaftesbury but never there again!

 

[rmielcarek]

Hi Rich,
there were quite a few 'funnies'. I put a few photos up, but only one (nr 3) in the following post would fit that description (there were definitely more, I'll try to find the other photos):
http://framptonwildflowers.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/violet-helleborines-in-the-lower-woods/
I was quite surprised by the big differences in colouring and overall shape/appearance of the VHs. (since I'm still a bit of a novice, though).
Jeanette

Yeah Jeanette, that fits, no lip, 4 instead of 6, perianth segments split between 2 sepals and 2 petals. That seems to be a popular combination, but I've found plants with 3 or 5 perianth segments, and 4 in another combination (lip, 3 sepals but no petals).

Not sure why they are so prevalent this year. I reckon at the small site near me I've found at least 30 mutant flowers, split across at least 10 plants ( and there are only about 25 flowering plants in total).

BTW worth looking for x schulzei at your site, it's occurred there before.

Rich M

 

[Simon1953]

Why no Ghosts?

Does Sheepleas have Monotropa?

YES, Sheepleas does indeed have Monotropa. There was one plant immediately beside the entrance into the car park from the lane. (I have to admit I was told it was there and I didn't just happen to find it!). I don't know about any others...

Simon

 

[AdrianW]

YES, Sheepleas does indeed have Monotropa. There was one plant immediately beside the entrance into the car park

I live and learn; I'll have to keep my eyes open for it next year. To add potentially to the confusion Sheepleas is a great site for Neottia nidus-avis


Violet Helleborines were looking excellent at Princes Risborough last weekend. I didn't see any var Rosea there though.

 

[muba]

I didn't see any var Rosea there though.

Just how frequent is var Rosea? Have there been any sightings this year or in the recent past?

 

[JCL]

Just how frequent is var Rosea? Have there been any sightings this year or in the recent past?

James hunter and i had a heavily nibbled plant that looked like rosea in 2012

 

[rmielcarek]

Pollinia hoarding

This Violet Helleborine seems to have acquired quite a collection of pollinia, all the while retaining it's own.

Rich M

 

[AdrianW]

Just how frequent is var Rosea? Have there been any sightings this year or in the recent past?

I last visited in 2011, and back then there were some pale variants with pink leaves, but unexpectedly green flowers. All the plants I saw this year were typical. Attached is one from 2011.