British orchids (may be pic heavy)

[Harvestman]

Set myself a challenge this year - to beat my personal record of 11 species of native orchid (not including hybrids) from my home county of Monmouthshire.

Talking to the county botanical recorder today we thought 13, maybe 14 species was the best that can be managed, so this is quite a challenge, although a quick check in the county flora suggests that there are 16 species known to be present in the county, 1 suspected as a possibility (Narrow-leaved helleborine) and a further 4-5 species recorded previously which are suspected now to be extinct in Monmouthshire (not listed)

So far I've managed 6 species

Here's the target list:
1. Common spotted orchid - seen
2. Early purple orchid - seen
3. Green winged orchid - seen
4. Twayblade - seen
5. Greater butterfly orchid - seen
6. Southern marsh orchid - seen
7. Bee orchid - seen
8. Broad leaved helleborine - seen - not yet in flower
9. Marsh helleborine - seen
10. Pyramidal orchid - seen
11. Fragrant orchid - very rare, but I know where to find it - seen
12. Autumn lady's tresses
13. Lesser Butterfly orchid - seen
14. Heath spotted orchid - seen
15. Narrow-leaved helleborine - may not occur in Monmouthshire
16. Bird's nest orchid - I've never seen this
17. Early marsh orchid - seen

Anyway, I thought I'd post up some pics of what I find as I go, as motivation, so hopefully I will complete my challenge this year
- update - challenge of seeing more than 11 species completed on 23.6.12

Common Spotted orchid


Early Purple orchid


Green Winged Orchid (bad picture from a camera phone, but apparently the only one I have)


Twayblade


Greater Butterfly orchid



I'd welcome pictures of orchids from other people, especially of things not on my list. I've seen Lady orchid, White Helleborine, and Monkey Orchid down in Oxfordshire, but none of the other species.

 

[Harvestman]

By the way, does anyone know why sometimes pics seem to attach themselves as thumbnails? It is very annoying. Can the thumbnails be removed?

 

[Barn Owl]

Great idea for a thread.

 

[Harvestman]

Thought I'd put up a schedule for what I hope to find when. Some will be easy, as I know exactly where to find them. Others are more of a challenge.

Early marsh orchid - may persist to June or July

Narrow-leaved helleborine - June (if it occurs)

Bird's nest orchid - June/July
Lesser Butterfly orchid - June/July
Fragrant orchid - June/July
Southern marsh orchid - June/July
Bee orchid - June/July

Pyramidal orchid - June to August
Heath spotted orchid - June to August

Marsh helleborine - July/August
Broad leaved helleborine - July to September

Autumn lady's tresses - August/September

Looks like I will be using the long summer evenings then

 

[treelore]

thanks for share those pics Harvestman

 

[Harvestman]

Had to update my list, as the county recorder apparently mis-remembered Narrow-leaved helleborine as White helleborine.

Gives me less time to try to find it.

 

[xylaria]

I know where what I thought was a narrow leaved hellborine grew, it in rugby in midlands. I havent been there is in 3 years.

 

[Harvestman]

Added another species this evening, from a site very close to my home.

Southern Marsh Orchid, hereafter to be known as the sudden marsh orchid, on account of the way apparently solid ground suddenly isn't solid when you approach them. Maybe hunting for marsh orchids after a period of heavy rain wasn't the brightest of ideas. Boots now drying out.

 

[hunter1703]

Hi ! Thought I'd share a couple of pictures I took recently of a Greater Butterfly Orchid, and a Late Spider Orchid. Both ' Firsts ' for me !






Just found a picture I took of an Early Spider Orchid................

 

[ged]

...I'd welcome pictures of orchids from other people...

The wife has a few shots of local bee orchids somewhere, funnily enough we were only looking at them this afternoon while out walking.

I'll ask her if you can have copies if you'd like them?

 

[Harvestman]

Lovely orchids Hunter, and Ged, any pictures are welcome. I'm off hunting for any many more species as I can find today, and I should add that I saw my first Broad Leaved helleborine of the year yesterday, although it isn't in flower yet.

I also checked out my Fragrant Orchid and Marsh helleborine site but neither of them are in flower yet either.

 

[ged]

... and Ged, any pictures are welcome. ...

Here you go:

http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/common_spotted.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/early_purple.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/pyramidal_orchid.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/bee_orchid_1.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/bee_orchid_2.jpg

 

[Harvestman]

Back from my orchid foray. it went really well. Saw seven species today, of which 5 are new for the list this year. I must have seen hundreds of Common Spotted Orchids, and also many Southern Marsh Orchids. The new ones were:

Pyramidal orchid - probably 30 or 40 of these, most just starting to open

Bee Orchid - only 7 spikes

Early Marsh Orchid - I finally found how to get to the marsh where these are known from. It was where I saw all the southern marsh orchids as well.

Heath Spotted Orchid - from the same marsh

and finally, probably the rarest orchid in the county, Lesser Butterfly Orchid. Last year there were 3 plants in this woodland, or so I'm told. I could only find one.


That means that with my non-flowering Broad Leaved Helleborine from yesterday I have now seen 12 orchid species so far this year, and I know where I can find at least another 3 species later in the year. The goal is now to see all 16 species known to currently grow in the county.

 

[Harvestman]

Here you go:

http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/common_spotted.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/early_purple.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/pyramidal_orchid.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/bee_orchid_1.jpg
http://www.jubileegroup.co.uk/JOS/misc/bee_orchid_2.jpg

Those are really nice pictures Ged. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ged]

Back from my orchid foray. it went really well. ... I have now seen 12 orchid species so far this year, and I know where I can find at least another 3 species later in the year. ...

Quite a haul! Some great shots there too.

 

[Mad Mike]

Found 1 Bee Orchid yesterday - by the pond with the swimming grass snake
Lovely detail on the flowers

Mike

 

[Harvestman]

Damn, I wish my camera woud take shots that are that good.

I need a new camera.

And some skill at photography

 

[Mad Mike]

You want a camera with a macro setting

& take enough shots to be reasonably confident there will be at least 1 decent picture

Most of your pictures are plenty good enough

Mike

 

[Harvestman]

My pocket digi is all I have. No macro setting, and to make things worse a damaged screen means I can only partially see the shot before I take it. I do ok, but yours are much nicer.

Total failure on finding Bird's Nest orchid today. Going to have to get someone to show me.

 

[hunter1703]

]This is the first time I've seen a pure white Fragrant Orchid !



The Pyramidal Orchids, along with many other species, are really prolific on the North Downs this year.



Some of the Bee Orchid Colonies ( Hives ?? ) number over a hundred flower spikes.....