2015 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[rmielcarek]

Ah thought it might be. Yes, as good as any I guess! But let's be clear, you were there because you think it's a hybrid no?

Well I was there because it's local to me and I've been monitoring a few plants which in the past have proved to be, shall I say, 'interesting'

It was quiet on here so I thought I'd be a bit contentious and post them without any explanation just to see if anybody else thought they were unusual.

To clarify;
* the two pictures on the right are both of the same plant, a Violet helleborine that has appeared for the first time this year and is somewhat lacking in chlorophyll, resulting in those rather nice pink leaves streaked with green - however the flowers look pretty normal.
* the three pictures to the left are all of the same plant but taken on three different dates; 11th August, 15th August and 18th August, you can see how they colour up as they age. Structurally the plant looks similar to a Violet (although it lacks the reflexed, 'cowl-like', lower leaf that Violet shows) but, as you say, can Violet, even one with excess pigment, show a red inside to the hypochile when fresh and mature so the whole flower is red?

Rich

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Couple of pics from today in the West Midlands.

These plants look very similar to your hybrid, Richard, but in this case their leaves are much more Helleborine-like.

Would be interested in opinions.

This colony has E helleborine and E purpurata adjacent to each other in small numbers.

You may notice I've entitled them "schulzei"

 

[leptochila]

Well I was there because it's local to me and I've been monitoring a few plants which in the past have proved to be, shall I say, 'interesting'

It was quiet on here so I thought I'd be a bit contentious and post them without any explanation just to see if anybody else thought they were unusual.

To clarify;
* the two pictures on the right are both of the same plant, a Violet helleborine that has appeared for the first time this year and is somewhat lacking in chlorophyll, resulting in those rather nice pink leaves streaked with green - however the flowers look pretty normal.
* the three pictures to the left are all of the same plant but taken on three different dates; 11th August, 15th August and 18th August, you can see how they colour up as they age. Structurally the plant looks similar to a Violet (although it lacks the reflexed, 'cowl-like', lower leaf that Violet shows) but, as you say, can Violet, even one with excess pigment, show a red inside to the hypochile when fresh and mature so the whole flower is red?

Rich

Very interesting and certainly convincing enough. Fred tells me pictures are being sent to John Richards...

The one Sean's posted above has friends around it that also seem to show some purpurata-like features. Since the hybrid is fertile, surely it's possible to get quite significant introgression in mixed populations? I'm sure drunk wasps aren't that arsed if their landing pad is whitish or reddish.

 

[rmielcarek]

Very interesting and certainly convincing enough. Fred tells me pictures are being sent to John Richards...

The one Sean's posted above has friends around it that also seem to show some purpurata-like features. Since the hybrid is fertile, surely it's possible to get quite significant introgression in mixed populations? I'm sure drunk wasps aren't that arsed if their landing pad is whitish or reddish.

We have a range of plants that show apparent features of both helleborine and purpurata.

Rich

 

[fgrsimon]

Green VH

While we're on the subject of odd VH's, is all green(Viridiflora?) a recognized variant? I couldn't see any mention of it in Harrap.

A Flickr contact posted this recently but sadly he is unable to share the location. Stunning looking plants though.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/biteyourbum/20377288520

 

[leptochila]

While we're on the subject of odd VH's, is all green(Viridiflora?) a recognized variant? I couldn't see any mention of it in Harrap.

A Flickr contact posted this recently but sadly he is unable to share the location. Stunning looking plants though.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/biteyourbum/20377288520

They didn't look like that for long! This is 4 days later.

Mike

 

[leptochila]

Shropshire purpurata

I made a dash back from London to Wolverhampton over the weekend to strike out into Shropshire for a check up on the purpurata sites at Coalbrookdale and Severn Valley Country Park. Some nice plants at both including a near complete rosea beside a road in Coalbrookdale. One gigantic plant at Severn Valley was about 80cm tall.

Mike

 

[rmielcarek]

Couple of pics from today in the West Midlands.

These plants look very similar to your hybrid, Richard, but in this case their leaves are much more Helleborine-like.

Would be interested in opinions.

This colony has E helleborine and E purpurata adjacent to each other in small numbers.

You may notice I've entitled them "schulzei"

Interesting plant Sean. The green stem and broad leaves clearly show helleborine influence and yet it's got those clean wide open flowers.

I must say this hybrid does my head in, trying to work out how variable Broad-leaved or Violet can be before they become 'out of range'.

Rich

 

[rmielcarek]

Interesting plant Sean. The green stem and broad leaves clearly show helleborine influence and yet it's got those clean wide open flowers.

I must say this hybrid does my head in, trying to work out how variable Broad-leaved or Violet can be before they become 'out of range'.

Rich

Sean/Mike

did you examine the lowest leaf on your plant at all? The length/width ratio should exceed 1.5 (as purpurata) but the leaf should be obtuse and glabrescent (as helleborine)

Rich

 

[Ghostly Vision]

No Rich.

Here is an interesting comparison with a Broad-leaved Helleborine from a site yesterday.

 

[Gareth Stamp]

Autumn lady's tresses

At Sker Point, Kenfig today approx. 10,000 autumn lady's tresses in good flower. Also field gentian but still in bud and autumn gentian just flowering.

140 autumn lady's tresses on grass areas in front of County Hall, Cardiff. A welcome increase on last year.

 

[leptochila]

At Sker Point, Kenfig today approx. 10,000 autumn lady's tresses in good flower. Also field gentian but still in bud and autumn gentian just flowering.

140 autumn lady's tresses on grass areas in front of County Hall, Cardiff. A welcome increase on last year.

First place I ever saw ALT! Glad to hear they're still doing well there.

Mike

 

[rmielcarek]

No Rich.

Here is an interesting comparison with a Broad-leaved Helleborine from a site yesterday.

The Broad-leaved looks even more like purpurata than the hybrid?

 

[jeffnsue]

Autumn Lady’s-tresses

Autumn Lady’s -tresses this morning at Gop Hill, North Wales. Most still in bud and I’ll need to go back in a week or so but I did find one plant to photograph
Jeff

 

[mdb2]

Autumn lady's Tresses

Lots probably around a thousand in flower greenham common Berks
Kind regards Mike

 

[rmielcarek]

I made a dash back from London to Wolverhampton over the weekend to strike out into Shropshire for a check up on the purpurata sites at Coalbrookdale and Severn Valley Country Park. Some nice plants at both including a near complete rosea beside a road in Coalbrookdale. One gigantic plant at Severn Valley was about 80cm tall.

Mike

Mike et al

do all your Violets have the normal darkish, rather stiff leaves or do some have green, softer leaves, often associated with rather weedy specimens with a small loose flowered inflorescence?

Pics show what I'm talking about.

Rich

 

[leptochila]

Mike et al

do all your Violets have the normal darkish, rather stiff leaves or do some have green, softer leaves, often associated with rather weedy specimens with a small loose flowered inflorescence?

Pics show what I'm talking about.

Rich

Hi Rich

Not at the location where the recently posted plants are found. The Violets there are all pretty uniform and standard looking.

Mike

 

[rmielcarek]

Hi Rich

Not at the location where the recently posted plants are found. The Violets there are all pretty uniform and standard looking.

Mike

Is that the site with the possible hybrids?

Rich

 

[muba]

Autumn Lady’s -tresses this morning at Gop Hill, North Wales. Most still in bud and I’ll need to go back in a week or so but I did find one plant to photograph
Jeff

Quite a few of these out now, but still plenty yet to come. Some nice 'sturdy' specimens to be found too.

 

[ladybee]

Hi everyone - sadly another season draws to a close and I would like to thank all of you who have helped me to see lots of new orchids and new sites. See you next year.
Best wishes,
Anne