EPO news..
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| Early-purples Potton wood 2014. note the leaves may have spots...or may not...most do have them. |
Early -purple orchids have been fully out now in the county and several of you have been busy looking for the missing pre-1987 locations as detailed in Chris`s desiderata.
Chris tells me that we now have 11 new tetrad records compared with his pre 1987 records, nine are new locations and two are re-finds of colonies not recorded post 1987 data set. Of the nine new colonies seven were recorded in 2013 and two this year.
Well done to those who have found these colonies...do keep looking there are still EPO`s to find for several weeks.
Flying start
I am told that fly orchid and man orchid have been found in flower already... this is early compared with recent years...do doubt as a result of the very mild winter...so please keep an eye out for them.One location for fly that i think should be re-findable is the woodland at Totternhoe knolls...look at the sides of the paths and in any glades.
Green-winged orchids have been out in good numbers at their few known sites this year. David Cleary re-located a small colony at the Wildlife Trust`s Fancott meadow which is very good news, although two of the three flower spikes were eaten. Next year these will be protected to see if seed can be set.
We are on the brink of the major flowering of most of our summer orchids now and by the number of leaves i have seen at Dunstable downs and elsewhere it promises to be another good year.
Lizard
Richard Revels is keen to track down any recollections and locations of Lizard Orchid since the 1950`s. There are rumours of this plant being found in the 1980`s in the Sharpenhoe and Sundon area if you saw it then or knew of them please get in touch
Birds nest book offer!
Good luck to all..hope you enjoy this summer of orchid hunting!
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| Birds-nest orchid lack any green colour being dependant on the fungi decaying the leaf litter and connected to tree roots. |
