2017 UK orchids (1 Viewer)

[tperry]

Dark Red Helleborine?

These plants established themselves in our Gloucestershire garden about 8 years ago, the numbers are slowly increasing.
We are 750ft above sea level on limestone subsoil.
Overall the plants grow to about 15in high.
My wife thinks they could be Dark Red Helleborines and I promised to post a picture here to see if anyone could help with ID.

 

[rmielcarek]

These plants established themselves in our Gloucestershire garden about 8 years ago, the numbers are slowly increasing.
We are 750ft above sea level on limestone subsoil.
Overall the plants grow to about 15in high.
My wife thinks they could be Dark Red Helleborines and I promised to post a picture here to see if anyone could help with ID.

Ideally we need a close up of the flower and a photo of the basal leaves but from what I can see if doesn't look like a Dark Red but a Broad-leaved helleborine (they come in a whole range of colours).

Dark Red doesn't grow south of Derbyshire whereas Broad-leaved is relatively common in the Cotswolds. Presumably you've got some woodland nearby?

Great plant to have in your garden!!

Rich M

 

[tperry]

Thanks for the prompt reply Rich!
Will try and get better photos tomorrow after the rain has passed.
No proper woodland closer than 250yd.

Tony

 

[jeffnsue]

E phyllanthes

At last the opportunity to get a half decent photograph of the flower!

This unfortunate plant had been nibbled such that only two flowers remained, enabling photographs to be taken without the distraction of extraneous leaves and surplus florets cluttering up the place, one in the shade and one with the sun on its face.

Am I right in assuming this to be var pendula?

Jeff Hodgson

 

[Dave Pearson]

"red" Helleborine

This rather red Helleborine was found at the weekend. Is it in the normal range for Broad-Leaved?

 

[rmielcarek]

This rather red Helleborine was found at the weekend. Is it in the normal range for Broad-Leaved?

Yes, although at the dark, heavily pigmented end of the range.

Rich

 

[tperry]

Ideally we need a close up of the flower and a photo of the basal leaves but from what I can see if doesn't look like a Dark Red but a Broad-leaved helleborine (they come in a whole range of colours).

Dark Red doesn't grow south of Derbyshire whereas Broad-leaved is relatively common in the Cotswolds. Presumably you've got some woodland nearby?

Great plant to have in your garden!!

Rich M

I have two pictures now Rich, one of the two lowest leaves and the other a closer one of of the flowers; not very good unfortunately but hopefully sufficient to confirm ID?

Thanks, Tony

 

[rmielcarek]

I have two pictures now Rich, one of the two lowest leaves and the other a closer one of of the flowers; not very good unfortunately but hopefully sufficient to confirm ID?

Thanks, Tony

Yes, Broad-leaved helleborine.

Dark Red has narrower, more folded leaves clusted together at the base and frilly bosses on the lip. Flower colour is unusual for Broad-leaved though so I can see why you might plump for Dark Red.

Rich

 

[tperry]

Yes, Broad-leaved helleborine.

Dark Red has narrower, more folded leaves clusted together at the base and frilly bosses on the lip. Flower colour is unusual for Broad-leaved though so I can see why you might plump for Dark Red.

Rich

Thanks again Rich, much appreciated.

Tony

 

[rmielcarek]

Back cross helleborine

This plant is thought to be possibly a back cross of E. x schulzei with E. purpurata. When it is growing it looks very much like a Violet, although it flowers slightly earlier than the other Violets at the site, but the flowers are atypical for a Violet.

Rich M

 

[Steve Babbs]

I'm thinking of visiting Warburg Reserve in the next few days. Are the narrow-lipped orchids - and the other 'specials' especially yellow birdsnest - easy to find?

Regards

Steve

 

[bustersymes]

Hi Steve

I have no recent info from Warburg - so others please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong - but based on timings of other things this summer I suspect you may be on the late side for Narrow-lipped (and suspect also they may not have had a very good year).

When I went last year I found the staff at Warburg's visitor centre very helpful and willing to give good directions to any orchids etc that are currently on show. You could also try ringing the centre in advance in case they can tell you if it's worth a visit for the specialities you're looking for.

Good luck!

Cheers
Andy

 

[muba]

I was disappointed by Warburg last week. One NLH had flowered and gone over, and a few BLH around. The centre was open, but no-one on hand. There was a reserve map with orchid locations on the desk though.

 

[toby]

I'm thinking of visiting Warburg Reserve in the next few days. Are the narrow-lipped orchids - and the other 'specials' especially yellow birdsnest - easy to find?

Regards

Steve

They've had a very bad year for Helleborines at Warburg. Only two NL when I went on 16/07. I can give you the grid reference if you PM me but I'd be very surprised if they're worth looking at now. Probably best to email the trust instead. They were very helpful when I spoke to them and should be able to give you the latest. - Toby

 

[muba]

They've had a very bad year for Helleborines at Warburg. Only two NL when I went on 16/07. I can give you the grid reference if you PM me but I'd be very surprised if they're worth looking at now. Probably best to email the trust instead. They were very helpful when I spoke to them and should be able to give you the latest. - Toby

Thanks for the offer Toby, but back home in N. Wales now. Another year perhaps.

Steve

 

[Yashca]

I'm going to be in Dorset on Wednesday/Thursday. I don't know if it's a bit late, but will Bog Orchid still be in flower?

If anyone can recommend a site (preferably with incredibly specific directions to the exact spot) I'd be delighted.

 

[Steve Babbs]

They've had a very bad year for Helleborines at Warburg. Only two NL when I went on 16/07. I can give you the grid reference if you PM me but I'd be very surprised if they're worth looking at now. Probably best to email the trust instead. They were very helpful when I spoke to them and should be able to give you the latest. - Toby

Thanks Toby. It'll be waiting for another year anyway as I had to cancel the trip.

 

[leptochila]

Thanks Toby. It'll be waiting for another year anyway as I had to cancel the trip.

I also saw the plants. Pretty disappointing show!

 

[muba]

Strange BLH

Has anybody seen this before? Its a BLH in bud but the buds are large, swaolen and globular. I tried to examine one, but could not make much out apart from the lip. Will they eventually open, and will the flowers be normal?

 

[muba]

New site for BLH

I was rather pleased on a return to a new BLH site to find them much more numerous and extensive than on our first visit. The clump shown below contained many more spikes than we saw at Warburg last week in total. Many of the spikes were above waist height.