2015 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[prevell]

Are these "early " frogs? The ones down south in Hants and Sussex are not at their best until July, and the same for frog colonies I know in Northumberland and Derbyshire.

Greetings Slatts!,

There is a small colony of 'Early Frogs' growing in neutral pH soil in Fancott Meadow in Bedfordshire now in full bloom which is always 8 weeks before all the other colonies on chalk downland in the county. Shortly they will be joined by Heath Spotted-orchids. This colony was found by Steve Oakes-Monger of Radlett in the 1970's but he was ignored by the county recorder and Kew. He also recorded Green-winged Orchid which is now extinct there, due also to slovenly civil servants coasting to retirement.

These 'Early Frogs' must be an 'ecotype' similar to the two ecotypes of Marsh Helleborine described by Sell & Murrell in Volume 5 of 'Flora of Great Britain and Ireland'.

I understand that Richard Bateman does not support the concept of ecotypes but I have had the two ecotypes of Epipactis palustris in cultivation in the same containers, the same compost and identical conditions since December 1991. For 24 years they have each displayed the unique unvarying characteristics of all the attributes which define a species or sub-species.

Peter

 

[leptochila]

For 24 years they have each displayed the unique unvarying characteristics of all the attributes which define a species or sub-species.

Are you saying that both your plants are exactly the same in terms of flowering time or that they've maintained a clear difference?

Mike

 

[leptochila]

Denbighshire Frogs - my turn!

Can't really do better than the pictures already posted so here's a photograph of what can only be described as a monster frog. It's growing in a hedge and has SEVEN spikes forming! Jeff's keys for scale.

Mike

 

[muba]

Can't really do better than the pictures already posted so here's a photograph of what can only be described as a monster frog. It's growing in a hedge and has SEVEN spikes forming! Jeff's keys for scale.

Mike

Certainly a beauty. I saw a few single spikes of similar size and development, but was not confident of them being frogs - I was wondering whether to try and squeeze in a return to see how they turned out.

 

[Rafeabrook]

ESO on Isle of Wight

Not sure if anyone here was aware of this ESO discovery on the Isle of Wight?

Roger?

Great news that a plant has seeded on the clifftops again!

 

[lewis20126]

Burnt Tips were near perfect at Martin Down NNR yesterday. A few scattered Early Purples, well past their best, in scattered spots in the scrub / grassland.

cheers, alan

 

[rogpow]

Not sure if anyone here was aware of this ESO discovery on the Isle of Wight?

Roger?

Great news that a plant has seeded on the clifftops again!

Yes, I was shown it the day after it was found. It's quite near the last plant that turned up in 2013, and in line of sight of the Purbeck colonies about 16 miles away as the seed flies.

Rog

 

[leptochila]

Not sure if anyone here was aware of this ESO discovery on the Isle of Wight?

Roger?

Great news that a plant has seeded on the clifftops again!

Good news indeed!

 

[Gareth Stamp]

Whiteford, Gower

2 green winged orchids in flower. Many southern marsh orchid in flower and many more coming into flower. Also 6 early marsh orchid (coccinea) in flower.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Those interested in seeing Coralroot might want to go to Sandscale haws over the next week or two. Best numbers since 1991, 898 counted so far with more to come.
http://sandscalehaws.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/coralroot-orchids.html?m=1

 

[muba]

Those interested in seeing Coralroot might want to go to Sandscale haws over the next week or two. Best numbers since 1991, 898 counted so far with more to come.
http://sandscalehaws.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/coralroot-orchids.html?m=1

I'm hoping to get there mid-June, and trusting they will still be there to be seen

 

[AdrianW]

Fly Orchids at Noar Hill were looking good on Wednesday, the Early Purples are going over, but one was still looking good. Many Common Twayblades at their best too. Didn't see anything else, but didn't have much time to look

The Man Orchids are in flower in Surrey too.

Sean: Thanks for the Coralroot reminder; that's on my list for this year!

Along with that does anyone have a good location for Lesser Twayblades near Sandscale Haws? Or anywhere conveniently on route from London to Sandscale? Feel free to PM me.

 

[Benjamin Ofield]

I noticed on Flickr that Late spider orchids have started to flower in Kent.
Can anyone be kind enough to dm me details on the whereabouts they are at Wye? I still haven't made the effort to see them in the UK yet, I was hoping to give it ago next weekend.

Cheers Ben

 

[Matthebirder]

Bear in mind it is now redefined as a subspecies of Pugsley's Marsh Orchid, though still worth seeing. Although yes, you will probably be too early.

I have got behind a bit on the taxonomy, where does the D.t.lapponica - Lapland Marsh orchid fit nowadays? I never managed to see these when last up in the region. I will however be in the area around 12 June if anyone may be able to advise me of a suitable site please, mainland preferably as I'm limited on time.
I hope people don't give up going for Heb Marsh, they would miss out on a stunning area!

(Off forum if you prefer)

Thanks
Matthew

 

[Ghostly Vision]

British "lapponica" is also considered to be part of traunsteinerioides.

It's a tetraploid so is highly variable.

Continental Lapponica are still that.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

There are now 1300+ Coralroots counted at Sandscale, with one major population still to be checked. By the weekend there could well be 2000+, in the top three years at that site.

Will definitely be there this weekend. They seem to go over really quickly in the dune slack populations, so it may not be much to look at by then, Muba.

Nearest easy Lesser Tway site would probably be Cliburn Moss, you need to contact the warden, Colin Auld, to get access and be shown where they are. He is a really helpful guy.

 

[slatts]

Noar Hill white fly orchids - lesser twayblade info

I was at Noar Hill this afternoon - thanks to Fearnor's directions- looking at the fantastic white, and white with a red fringe fly orchids. Really superb plants.
I have never seen anything like them before.

Later I went to Chappetts Copse to see the many SLH. Next to a beech tree there is a tall plant growing next to white helleborine still in bud. It has broader leaves and the top flowers are still tightly in bud. Is this a hybrid?

On another topic I would like to see the lesser twayblade. If it is out anywhere next week could someone let me know please?

 

[muba]

Will definitely be there this weekend. They seem to go over really quickly in the dune slack populations, so it may not be much to look at by then, Muba.

Travel plans being hastily reworked. Aiming for the following weekend. The LSOs should be in bloom too at Gait Barrow

 

[Gromitwins]

My partner Stephen Oakes -Monger was really lucky to find the Early Spider Orchid on Tennyson Down on the IOW,he has a good eye for orchids and habitats and started to search the cliff edges and as I was sitting on the bench admiring the view he called me.The plant was lovely although some woman nearly trod on it as he was showing it to them.A great find,and a great addition to our holiday too

 

[Matthebirder]

British "lapponica" is also considered to be part of traunsteinerioides.

It's a tetraploid so is highly variable.

Continental Lapponica are still that.

Thanks for update, I wish I could keep up on all these developments....