Well it is the time for orchids and wild flowers generally are really stunning around here at the moment, so I have been out and about with the camera and thought to post a few over the next few days.
This is not strictly bushcraft because despite the being uses for orchids as with many wild plants, it is the aesthetic charm of the flowers that really inspires me with their often stunning beauty, and also the incredible mimicry they often employ to entice insects to pollinate them. They are truly one of natures great wonders there for all to see if you look in the right places and always bring a smile to peoples faces when they see them. Like they say 'don't forget to sniff the flowers on the way' or in the case of orchids, to gaze in wonder
I love seeing other peoples photos and other things people see out and about so if you get the chance, post a few you have taken recently or remember to pack the camera for the next trip Just a few words to describe what it is and how you came to take it is also interesting...
Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum)
The Man Orchid is well named given the shape of the 'hang man' shaped lip hanging down from the 'helmet' formed from the sepals. In fact in French it is called the 'Homme-pendu' or hangman Click the link for more details. Size between 10-40 cm tall. This year they are particularly rampant it seems and I found groups of some 10-30 as well as scattered individuals. This one was found up on a steep bank of a local valley a few km away from my village. This meant I could get right down below it and capture the fresh green of the new oak foliage as a backdrop and the lovely clear blue sky we had that day.
'Hangman' detail. Close up showing more clearly the amazing shape of the lip,somtimes yellow, in this case tinged an impressive blood red to add to the effect.
It is possible to find the Man Orchid in southern counties of Britian, found also to the west and central part of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean region (except the east). Here is a map of distribution in the British Isles:
source: nbn gateway. more detail available there if you search this species.
happy spotting
This is not strictly bushcraft because despite the being uses for orchids as with many wild plants, it is the aesthetic charm of the flowers that really inspires me with their often stunning beauty, and also the incredible mimicry they often employ to entice insects to pollinate them. They are truly one of natures great wonders there for all to see if you look in the right places and always bring a smile to peoples faces when they see them. Like they say 'don't forget to sniff the flowers on the way' or in the case of orchids, to gaze in wonder
I love seeing other peoples photos and other things people see out and about so if you get the chance, post a few you have taken recently or remember to pack the camera for the next trip
Just a few words to describe what it is and how you came to take it is also interesting...Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum)
The Man Orchid is well named given the shape of the 'hang man' shaped lip hanging down from the 'helmet' formed from the sepals. In fact in French it is called the 'Homme-pendu' or hangman
Click the link for more details. Size between 10-40 cm tall. This year they are particularly rampant it seems and I found groups of some 10-30 as well as scattered individuals. This one was found up on a steep bank of a local valley a few km away from my village. This meant I could get right down below it and capture the fresh green of the new oak foliage as a backdrop and the lovely clear blue sky we had that day.
'Hangman' detail. Close up showing more clearly the amazing shape of the lip,somtimes yellow, in this case tinged an impressive blood red to add to the effect
.
It is possible to find the Man Orchid in southern counties of Britian, found also to the west and central part of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean region (except the east). Here is a map of distribution in the British Isles:
source: nbn gateway. more detail available there if you search this species.
happy spotting
