2015 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[muba]

More DRH at Great Orme

The DRH in the previous post grow beneath steep rugged limestone cliffs. We took the long way around to the top of these cliffs directly above the others. Here we found another 25 in flower (though some had been rabbit nibbled) and a further 20 more plants without flowers. The limestone is extensively terraced and the DRH tend to grow at the back of the terraces with rock vertically behind them. Here they may get the advantage of a bit more rain water retained. Even so, it was very dry up there. They were rather small and later to flower than those down below. The spread of these along the top was greater than down below - 250 metres minimum.
With small colonies at the top and the bottom of these cliffs it is highly likely that the overall area (perhaps 20,000 sqm) harbours an extensive but scattered population of several hundred plants at least. The good news is that more of this area is inaccessible, perhaps even to rabbits, allowing a degree of protection.

 

[Benjamin Ofield]

Marsh fragrant

I'm off to the New forest next week I don't suppose anyone has any sites for Marsh fragrant in Hampshire or anywhere nearby?

Cheers Ben

 

[Satyrium]

Anyone know if the Dark Red Helleborines are out at Bishop Middleham yet? Thanks for any info...

I was there on Tuesday 7th, and most of them were still tightly budded. I'd give them at least a week.

Dave

 

[Simon1953]

New Forest - Fragrants

I'm off to the New forest next week I don't suppose anyone has any sites for Marsh fragrant in Hampshire or anywhere nearby?

Cheers Ben

Ben, I have pm'd you.

 

[John P Lee]

Marsh helleborine now out in very good numbers at Dawlish Warren.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Marsh helleborine now out in very good numbers at Dawlish Warren.

Very nice images!

Martin

 

[IJS]

Found this pyramidal the other day which maybe the emarginata variety but am really not sure! What do others think? Thanks

 

[IJS]

Been down to the seaside today to see how the dune helleborines are doing. None in flower (as expected/warned) and probably a week or more before they are out.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Been down to the seaside today to see how the dune helleborines are doing. None in flower (as expected/warned) and probably a week or more before they are out.

The Dunes at Alyn Waters were in a very similar state, with, as I suggested in an earlier posting, a similar period still to go to flowering. Some rain today may help!

 

[Simon1953]

Pale pink Pyramidals

I found a number of pale pink Pyramidals (left) as well as larger numbers of the usual, much stronger coloured ones (right), on a recent visit to Ladle Hill (Hants). Are these a recognised 'variety'?

Simon

 

[IJS]

I found a number of pale pink Pyramidals (left) as well as larger numbers of the usual, much stronger coloured ones (right), on a recent visit to Ladle Hill (Hants). Are these a recognised 'variety'?

Simon

Not that I am aware. The pure white version is a variety though.

 

[rmielcarek]

Found this pyramidal the other day which maybe the emarginata variety but am really not sure! What do others think? Thanks

Not the best example of var emarginata I've ever seen but it clearly isn't a normal Pyramidal.

In my local colony of Pyramids which regularly holds a few emarginata there is always a cline between the normal Pyramids with deeply indented tri-lobed lips and classic emarginata with a fully rounded lip and it really depends on where you want to draw the dividing line. As in your example it is not unusual for some flowers on the spike to be more completely rounded than others.

I'd put that down as emarginata.

Rich M

 

[muba]

Found this pyramidal the other day which maybe the emarginata variety but am really not sure! What do others think? Thanks

Compares with the same variety I posted last year. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3027843&highlight=emarginata#post3027843

 

[muba]

Sweeney Fen

I went to Sweeney Fen today and was also impressed by the Marsh Fragrants; so many!
Talk of a Dactyl X Gymno hybrid had me looking closely and I found these two plants. Both look at first like Fragrants yet to flower but on closer inspection there was something just not right; as if the flower was never going to unfurl. Both had spotted leaves.

 

[muba]

Cso / Hso

This pictures were taken in a meadow on the English - Welsh border, where both Common and Heath Spotted Orchids grow. I confess to being dumb on the identication of HSO when it falls outside what is shown in books. These have me a bit puzzled.

 

[Gareth Stamp]

Kenfig NNR

I came across this fragrant orchid at Kenfig today. The flower shape was different to the other marsh fragrants on site. I presume the flower shape on this plant can be put down to natural variation? Is this within the normal range variation for marsh fragrant orchid? Any suggestions please

 

[rmielcarek]

This pictures were taken in a meadow on the English - Welsh border, where both Common and Heath Spotted Orchids grow. I confess to being dumb on the identication of HSO when it falls outside what is shown in books. These have me a bit puzzled.

These are similar to plants I found a few weeks ago in a local meadow that holds both species; I never came to any conclusion as to what mine are.

I asked a couple of people for their opinions; they agreed about a couple and differed on others.

It seems to me that the diagnosis of D. x transiens, the hybrid between the two spotted orchids, must be nigh on impossible unless you come across a stonking great robust individual. That said the size and shape of the basal leaves is supposed to be different between the two species and intermediate in the hybrid.

Rich

 

[rmielcarek]

I came across this fragrant orchid at Kenfig today. The flower shape was different to the other marsh fragrants on site. I presume the flower shape on this plant can be put down to natural variation? Is this within the normal range variation for marsh fragrant orchid? Any suggestions please

Weren't/Aren't the Fragrants at Kenfig considered to be different anyway, var freisica?

I know that doesn't help your main question, about this individual plant, but it could impact the second part, about other marsh fragrants.

Rich M

 

[IJS]

This pictures were taken in a meadow on the English - Welsh border, where both Common and Heath Spotted Orchids grow. I confess to being dumb on the identication of HSO when it falls outside what is shown in books. These have me a bit puzzled.

They look like some plants I came across recently, again in a field that holds both species. The added complication there was the addition of southern marsh orchids in the mix too! I think we need a portable DNA analyser!

 

[IJS]

Not the best example of var emarginata I've ever seen but it clearly isn't a normal Pyramidal.

In my local colony of Pyramids which regularly holds a few emarginata there is always a cline between the normal Pyramids with deeply indented tri-lobed lips and classic emarginata with a fully rounded lip and it really depends on where you want to draw the dividing line. As in your example it is not unusual for some flowers on the spike to be more completely rounded than others.

I'd put that down as emarginata.


Rich M

Thanks for your thoughts. As you say its not a 100% classic example. Certainly the closest I've ever come across!

Cheers
Ian