Terrestrial Orchids 2017

[Maggi Young]

Our  lovely mixed hybrid dactylorhiza  are a feature in this week's Bulb Log ....
 http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Jun211498034426BULB_LOG_2517.pdf

[ian mcdonald]

Gerrit, good photos. of the Helleborine. Mine are only just in bud but spreading slowly.

[Yann]

this afternoon i travelled between Antwerp and the south of Holland, hoping the heat didn't burnt completly the orchids.
I was surprised to still found nice plants compared to the Chanel's dunes where almost all plants are making seeds pods.

Epipactis palustris
Liparis loeselii
Herminium monorchis
Dactylorhiza praetermissa (?? color is strange and the shape doesn't match incarnata, may be an hybrid)
Dactylorhiza praetermissa x fuschii

[Anders]

The first of my Platanthera huronensis seedlings is now flowering in the garden. Very modest compared to its fringed cousins.

Anders

[Maggi Young]

Modest at first glance ,Anders - but repaying close inspection.

[Yann]

Never seen it in the wild, looks tiny

[Gabriela]

Never seen it in the wild, looks tiny

P. huronensis only grows on the shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan Yann. The flowers are small but the plant is tall (over 1 m) and vigorous (a polyploid).
Not often seen and for a while I ignore it believing to be a slightly different coloured dilatata  Only last year I had a closer look. Apparently can be mistaken with P. aquilonis (which has no fragrance).
http://michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=1831

Anders might want to have a closer look. See here P. aquilonis - which can also be mistaken with P. hyperborea
http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Platanthera%20aquilonis

[Anders]

Thanks Gabriela, I think you are right. No scent from the flowers, so probably P. aquilonis.

It seems that P. huronensis is a dilitata-aquilonis hybrid that has chromosome doubled (allotetraploid), inheriting the scent from the dilitata parent. But I guess the only way to be completely sure is a chromosome count.

Anders

[Gabriela]

Since you brought this one to attention I checked again -  I was wrong about the distribution, P. huronensis has few disjunct populations outside Great Lakes area.
It is more similar with hyperborea than with aquilonis.

Anyway, here's a link with all NA Platanthera. If you want to go that far away with the chrom. counting I can send you material.
http://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/genus/platanthera/

[Anders]

Thanks again Gabriela. I will try to ID from this article: CJ SEARS, 2008, MORPHOLOGICAL DISCRIMINATION OF PLATANTHERA AQUILONIS, P. HURONENSIS, AND P. DILATATA (ORCHIDACEAE) HERBARIUM SPECIMENS, might have to dry one first

But if you come across seeds from some of the less greenish American Platantheras........

Anders

[Gabriela]

Thanks again Gabriela. I will try to ID from this article: CJ SEARS, 2008, MORPHOLOGICAL DISCRIMINATION OF PLATANTHERA AQUILONIS, P. HURONENSIS, AND P. DILATATA (ORCHIDACEAE) HERBARIUM SPECIMENS, might have to dry one first

But if you come across seeds from some of the less greenish American Platantheras........
Anders

I answered by pm Anders.

[Tony Willis]

Bletilla formosana very delicate and airy

[Tony Willis]

Epipactis helleborine, difficult to believe but it has appeared spontaneously in the shrub border at the front of the house. I have one plant in a pot in a frame at the back of the house.

[Maggi Young]

Bletilla formosana very delicate and airy

Isn't it just?

Epipactis helleborine

Love these green flowers

[Steve Garvie]

Bletilla formosana very delicate and airy

A most attractive orchid Tony!