Wild Orchids.

Like most gardener I know risky flowers . It is horrific that in the UK , we have lose 97 % of our wildflower meadows since the 1930s and that we have 50 % few wild flowers than 20 years ago . Thank goodness that many people are beginning to realise the beauty and importance of our aboriginal flora and to introduce mini wild flower meadows into their garden .

But the orchids we have lost are not so easy to put back , you ca n’t buy a bundle of orchid seeds and toss them on to your lawn . days ago many verges in Suffolk were sprayed with herbicide and Colony of orchid were mislay evermore . And of course the intensive USDA has led to the personnel casualty of many wild flower sites . luckily , in Suffolk there a number of verges that are now protected and negociate by Suffolk Wildlife Trust and we have small numbers of orchidaceous plant that are secure . But they are by no means plentiful . I last saw the rare Man Orchid grow on on a sceptre 11 year ago .

I have of late been enjoying a book , The Orchid Hunter by a vernal lad , Leif Bersweden who spend his break twelvemonth assay out orchids in the UK . He had to travel far and broad and many of the sites for rarer orchids are keep secret . With decision and a lot of service Leif tracked down all of our aboriginal orchids apart from the extremely uncommon ghost orchid . His enthusiasm for orchidaceous plant and his beloved of the countryside make this book a delectation to read .

Orchis simia

But here in the Aveyron and the Tarn and Garonne where we drop as much time as Brexit allows , you do n’t have to go far to find a multitude of orchids in early May and I am like a child in a miniature shop . OK , I do n’t get to take them home but I can take photographs and drool over them at my leisure .

The orchidaceous plant above are monkey orchidaceous plant , Orchissimia . They have little dangling scallywag flesh . They are also quite distinctive because the bud open from top to bottom instead of the other direction round .

A very similar orchidaceous plant is the miltary orchidaceous plant , Orchismilitariswhich is so rare in England that it has carefully guarded sites .

Orchis simia

Sometimes these two orchids hybridise which makes identification difficult . And sometimes they hybridise with the Lady Orchid , Orchispurpurea . She has bonnets and pretty doll .

Now you have touch the Lady Orchid , allow ’s conform to the Man Orchid , Orchisanthropophorawhich is now very rare in the UK . When it is fledged there are small dangling Man , but the buds on this one are not fully heart-to-heart so the little yellow men are not establish up very well .

Another typical orchidaceous plant is the Burnt Tip Orchid , Neotineaustulata . The pretty flowers of this one are gently fragrant . you could see how it convey its common name as the tip does look as if it has been cauterise .

Orchis militaris

The next orchid is the Lesser Butterfly Orchid , Platantherabifolia . It is also lightly fragrant . It is pollinated by moth . It ooze a tripping vanilla fragrance in the evenings .

Of of course there are plenty of bee orchids here and again they crossbreed so recognition is tricky . This first oneOphrysluteais quite distinctive . Again it is gently fragrant and of course pollinate by bees .

Here are a few more bee orchids . I discover it hard to tell them apart as there are so many variations .

Orchis purpurea

The next exposure is a bit out of focal point but I want to include it as it is a absorbing orchid . It is call the Violet Limodore or the Violet Bird ’s Nest Orchid , Limodorumabortivum . It has no leave and although it does have photosynthetic pigments these are deficient to support a mature plant . It has a symbiotic relationship with fungus which in its spell is in a symbiotic kinship with tree . The seeds take ten years to produce flowering plant . The flowers and root are violet . I wish I had a better photo .

The next orchid , Narrow - leaved Helleborine , Cephalantheralongifoliais a woodlander . Like the Violet Limodore it relies on a symbiotic relationship with fungus in the territory .

I will finish with a small colony of orchids which I found not far from our house . This is the only time I have catch it . It is calledSerapiaslingua . The common name , Tongue Orchid is quite a honest description .

This is get rather long so I will save some orchids for another day . But perhaps you could see why I am stupefy so excited ; there are orchids everywhere . Most of the unity above were plant on a short pass . And the Pianist is getting quite used to me shrieking ‘ Stop the car ! ’ as we drive along .

Wild Orchids.

Wild Orchids.

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