Latest Photos at 14.8.21

Arinagour, Coll; 14 August 2021

Irish Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana).  20 to 30 plants at least in a field grazed by horses.

        

Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire; 2 August 2021

Violet Helleborine (Epipactis purpurata), always the last Epipactis to flower. 

                                   

Savernake, Wiltshire; 31 July 2021

The hybrid between broad-leaved and violet helleborines (Epipactis x schultzii)

      

Warburg, Oxfordshire; 26 July 2021

Narrow-lipped helleborine (Epipactis leptochila), one of only 2 flowering spikes to escape slug damage, which has been extensive this year at Warburg.

Buckle Wood, Gloucestershire; July 25, 2021

Narrow lipped helleborine (Epipactis leptochila), growing in deep shade

  

Edge Common, Gloucestershire; July 25, 2021

Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), a few metres from the parking pull off for this national nature reserve

                                            

Another plant but showing a very different colour form of  a very variable species

                                          

Warburg, Oxfordshire; July 23,2021

Narrow-lipped helleborine (Epipactis leptochila), Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) and a probable hybrid (Epipactis x stephensonii).   I first came across a hybrid there last year and certainty of identification is a challenge.   This plant is probably a hybrid but I still have to check the measurements I made on the perianth and the vegetative characteristics.

 

Garth Wood, Glamorgan; July 19, 2021

Narrow-lipped helleborine (Epipactis leptochila).   The epichile on these Welsh plants is much broader than normal, and has been described as var. cordata.

Hutton Roof, Cumbria; July 10,2021

Dark red helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens)

Epipactis x scmalhausenii, the hybrid between dark red helleborine and broad-leaved helleborine which was still in bud

    

Howmore, South Uist; July 3, 2021

Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).  A large striking plant with heavily marked leaves near Tobha Mòr.

Askernish, South Uist; July 3, 2021

Northern marsh orchid x Frog orchid hybrid (Dactylorhiza x viridellum).   Neither parent close by,

Carnan, South Uist; July 3, 2021

Lesser butterfly orchid (Platanthera bifolia).   Lots in a damp meadow.

Clachan Sands, North Uist; July 2, 2021

More frog, and marsh orchids and hybrids.

Pugsley's marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides).  The unusually long central lobe, few flowers, strong markings, and thick spur separate it from a common spotted orchid, but surprisingly the chewed leaves were unspotted.

Northern marsh orchid x Early marsh orchid ssp. coccinea (Dactylorhiza x latirella), though I am less sure about the second example.

 

Northern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Early marsh orchid ssp coccinea x Frog orchid (Dactylorhiza guilhottii).   There are only a handful of records in Britain for this combination, so I got confirmation from BSBI's orchid referee, Richard Bateman.  A highlight!

  

Vatersay; 30 June 2021

Frog orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis)

Early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea)

Barra; June 29, 2021

Common spotted orchid x heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza x transiens), based on perianth characters

Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

A very variable species; plants within a few metres of each other:

 

                

                  

Orton, Cumbria; June 27, 2021

The verges around Orton and Orton pasture are a delight, with 5 orchid species plus hybrids

Northern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza pupurella)

   

Common spotted orchid x Northern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza x venusta)

Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

Heath fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia borealis)

Rixton Clay Pits, Warrington; June 27, 2021

A challenging site with three marsh orchids together and hybridising.  5 orchid species in flower.  Identifications are probable but not necessarily correct and are based on the perianth.

Northern marsh orchid x southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza x insignis)

                                                          

     

Southern marsh orchid x early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza x wintonii)

    

Northern marsh orchid x early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza x latirella)

            

 

Meadow off Stratford Lane, Wootton, Oxfordshire June 24, 2021

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera)

  

Pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)

 

Cow Lane Meadow. Hook Norton, Oxfordshire June 23, 2021

Chalk fragrant orchid (Gymadenia conopsea)

Noar Hill, Hampshire (H and IOW Wildlife Trust) June 19 2021

Musk orchid (Herminium monorchis)

   

Common spotted orchid  (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and common carder bee pollinator

Christmas Common, Oxfordshire 16 June 2021

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), during a count of the orchids in flower there. 

   

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium)

    

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)

Near Kidlington, Oxfordshire 16 June 2021

Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) at a well-known verge protected by two stout posts.

  

Warburg (BBOWT) Oxfordshire, 14 June 2021

 

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia), the only one found there so far this year.  A rarity in Oxfordshire.

 

   

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha)

       

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

       

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

...and a broomrape (Orobanche sp.) which might at first glance be mistaken for an orchid.   I still have to ID the plant

Millend Common, Bucks 11 June 2021

Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) amongst Ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi)

Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

The hybrid between common spotted and southern marsh orchids, (Dactylorhiza x grandis)

Road Verge Near Crawley, Oxfordshire 10 June 2021

Wasp orchid (Ophrys apifera var trollii)

 Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). A mutation where the flower spike has split part way up.

Bull's Cross, Gloucestershire 8 June 2021

Both lesser and greater butterfly orchids (Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha) are sympatric (grow side by side) at Bull's Cross and hybridise, and there is introgression.   These are examples of plants close to lesser butterfly but instead of the pollinia being close together and parallel, these are either not parallel or if parallel then not close together.

 

White helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium)

Warburg (BBOWT), Oxfordshire 4 June 2021

I organised a count of fly orchids (Ophrys insectifera) at Warburg on 2 June, with a total of 131 plants.  I added a few more today.

Greater butterfly orchids (Platanthera chlorantha) just coming into flower.

Bird's nest orchids (Neottia nidus-avis) in modest numbers at Warburg this year (just 10 counted on Wednesday)

Most of the 113 helleborines caged and marked last year have come up again, though in the last two weeks slugs have chewed a good proportion.  12 new plants were found today.

Ufton Fields, (Warwicks. Wildlife Trust) 3 June 2021

8 man orchid (Orchis anthropophora) spikes with an average of 28 flowers per spike, virtually the same as my last count in 2019, despite some introduction in the winter.

The first common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) I have seen this year 

Hornsleasow Roughs, Glos. (Natural England) 1 June 2021

A return visit to see a group of six burnt orchids (Neotinea ustulata) in flower.

Yockletts Bank (Kent Wildlife Trust), 29 May 2021

Lady orchid (Orchis purpurea). Other orchids in flower: early purple, fly, common twayblade (lots); in bud, white helleborine; leaves: broad-leaved helleborine, common spotted orchid.

Folkestone Downs, Kent 29 May 2021

Late spider orchid (Ophrys fuciflora)

Burnham Quarry

Man orchid (Orchis anthropophora)

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

Hornsleasow Roughs (Natural England), Gloucestershire 25 May 2021

Burnt orchid (Neotinea ustulata); I think this is the only site in the Vice County

Green winged orchid (Anacamptis morio), white colour morph

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula)

Warburg (BBOWT), Oxfordshire,  20 May 2021

Helleborine (either narrow-lipped or broad-leaved), Epipactis sp. emerging under heavy beech shade. 

Swain's Wood, Buckinghamshire, 20 May 2021

Military orchid Orchis miltaris   A Schedule 8 plant protected from most things but not wind and rain.

Oversley Wood, Warwickshire, 18 May 2021

Narrow-leaved helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia sitting close to a track used by forestry vehicles.   Rare in Warwickshire.

Warburg, Oxfordshire, 14 May 2021

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula) showing a group of pollinia deposited on a flower

Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolium), not an orchid but an indicator of ancient woodland

Yockletts Bank, Kent 12 May 2021

Lady orchid (Orchis purpurea)

Common twayblade (Neottia ovata)

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula)

Burham, Kent 12 May 2021

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

Hartslock, Oxfordshire, 11 May 2021

Lady x Monkey orchid hybrid (Orchis x angusticruris)

Hornsleasow Roughs, Gloucestershire, 7 May 2021

Early purple orchid, Orchis mascula, non-resupinate.

Green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio)

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula)

Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) as stunning as, if not better than, many orchids.

Foxholes Reserve (BBOWT), Oxfordshire, 6 May 2021

Early purple orchid, Orchis mascula.   Fewer plants than in previous years.

A37 near Melbury Bubb, Dorset 4 May 2021

Fly x Woodcock orchid hybrid, Ophrys x nelsonii (maybe);  original determination not universally accepted.

Draycote Meadows, Warwickshire; 23 April 2021

Green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio) just coming into flower.