Dactylorhiza lapponica - Orchid Board

ronaldhanko · #1 10-31-2008, 02:12 PM

We found this plant (and others like it) in the Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland. I believe the identification is correct.

camille1585 · #2 10-31-2008, 02:52 PM

It's gorgeous and nice picture!!

I love our native terrestrials. In the spring I go for long hikes in and around the Alps looking for some.

I do agree that it is a Dactylorhiza, but am not persuaded that it is D. lapponica. In my orchid guide, D.lapponica has a heavily spotted/mottled lip and the flowers are spaced further apart on the spike. It's not an orchid that I am very familiar with as it is extremely rare in France.

ronaldhanko · #3 11-01-2008, 04:45 PM

Camille,
You may be correct. I am not very familiar with European orchids and did not have a good identifier with me.

camille1585 · #4 11-01-2008, 05:08 PM

Whatever the name, it is always great to be able to see these orchids in the wild. I love them, and always look forward to spring/early summer. If you are interested, I have pictures in my gallery. Now I am curious about what your orchid is. Do you remember if this orchid had solid or spotted leaves? When did you see it?
Did you see any other orchids while you were there?

ronaldhanko · #5 11-01-2008, 08:50 PM

We were in the area of the Burren August 8 and 9, 2006. This was blooming along with a similar orchid which was white flowered and that I tentatively identified as Dactylorrhiza fuchsii, var. o'kellyi. The flowers on that plant were similar with no spotting but with a three lobed lip in which the lobes were more sharply defined. Neither orchid had spotted leaves that I remember.

ronaldhanko · #6 11-02-2008, 03:03 AM

Camille,
I've done some research on the internet and have come to doubt that this is sp. lapponica. I'm not even sure that that grows in Ireland in the Burren (don't remember where I got my identification. Can't seem to nail it down, though.

camille1585 · #7 11-02-2008, 05:49 AM

I've been doing research as well, and now wonder if it is a Dactylorhiza. I found a website on irish wildflowers, and a photo of Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. densiflora, which looks identical to yours.
What do you think?
irish wildflowers

ronaldhanko · #8 11-02-2008, 11:24 AM

I think you've found it, Camille. That picture looks exactly like it. Flowering time is right. That's really exciting. Thanks ever so much for the help.

camille1585 · #9 11-02-2008, 11:34 AM

No problem, I love orchid ID challenges!

I'm now even more certain that the name is right. The one on the irish flowers website was found at the same place as yours, The Burren!(it's written at the very bottom of the page). Might be the exact same plant for all we know.

ronaldhanko · #10 11-02-2008, 06:29 PM

Camille,
Did you mean that you have pictures of native orchids in your gallery? If so, I couldn't find them. I have some other pictures on the web at Picasa Web Albums - Ron - Wild Orchids
Perhaps you can find some others that are misidentified since there are several other European orchids there.