Ophrys tenthredinifera - Orchid Board

SteveC · #1 02-11-2015, 08:31 AM

First flower opened now on another of my favourite Ophrys, (I say that about all of them don't I?)
This is Ophrys tenthredinifera. Strictly speaking the name means Sawfly bearing, but it is also called the Lion's mane Ophrys, which I think is more appropriate. Found throughout the Mediterranean, the splitters have had a field day with this one as it is quite variable.

DeaC · #2 02-11-2015, 10:50 AM

Candidate for orchid of the month!

WhiteRabbit · #3 02-11-2015, 07:35 PM

Wonderful!

wintergirl · #4 02-12-2015, 12:40 AM

WOW! Love it!

vjo · #5 02-12-2015, 06:56 AM

I wish I could find these, that is really really nice!
...Jean

naoki · #6 02-12-2015, 03:32 PM

Very nice, Steve! From the photo, this species seems to have pretty short inflorescence. How tall is it? There are lots of cool European terrestrials. I've been wanting to try Ophrys, hopefully I can try it this summer.

Jean, here is the good source:
www.myorchids.de

SteveC · #7 02-12-2015, 03:57 PM

This is the first flower of several on the inflorescence. As they open over the next few weeks it will reach about ten inches tall with four to six flowers. The stem seems to elongate during this process and this first flower will be several inches above the leaves in the end. I will add some more pictures as things move on.

I have no insulation on the greenhouse at all. For the past two winters our temperatures have barely reached -4C (24F) and then for short periods only, so although I have my heater set at 3C it hardly comes on. A few years back it dipped to -17C at night for about three months solid, only reaching -4/5 during the day so the insulation went on and I noticed some of my plants getting quite leggy, as well as others refusing to flower, which I assumed was due to lack of light. I would rather have as much light as possible getting to my plants as it keeps them compact and I never need to stake.

Many of my plants have come from Heinrich Beyre at myorchids.de but as he is in Germany I have no problems with CITES when I buy from him in England, unlike those of you in the States. But then again I would love to try some of your brightly coloured Platantheras, all of ours are white, so it is a case of swings and roundabouts. (Does that expression mean anything over the ocean?)

P.s. I have just noticed where you are Naoki. You must laugh at our so called winters

naoki · #8 02-12-2015, 07:52 PM

I'll be looking forward to seeing more photos, Steve!

Wow, the cold tolerance of this species seems be quite something. I've done a bit of research with cold tolerance of Alaska plants. The plant I studied would get fair amount of cell damage from -17C exposure. Even air temp can go to -40C here, the plants under snow doesn't experience below -5 or -10C because of the insulation effect of snow.

Philip (a member here, his handle is king-of-orchid-growing) has done group order from Dr. Beyre, and he frequently import from him.

I'm still a terrestrial beginner, so I haven't tried Planthera yet. I'm still trying to learn Cyps, and started one species of Dactylorhiza. Great Lakes Orchids has a few Planthera species, but they are a bit expensive for me.

Alaska winter is quite something, but it's not as bad as most people think. We have really mild winter this year (while lower 48 suffers). Global warming is great for us (just kidding).

SteveC · #9 02-13-2015, 04:07 AM

I guess I did not make myself clear, the minus 17c was outside not in the greenhouse! However at that time I was using paraffin heaters which simply could not cope with the cold and so the temperature inside the greenhouse dropped to -4C.

I have over a hundred European terrestrials and various Australians, and there was only one which showed obvious damage, the leaves on Gennaria diphylla were pulped, though thankfully the next year's tubers were already formed so no real harm done.

I am not saying that you should deliberately allow these plants to get this cold, but that they are tougher than many think and can cope with short periods of cold.

Coldgrower · #10 02-13-2015, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjo

I wish I could find these, that is really really nice!
...Jean

If you are interested in this species and have the ability to grow them from seed Med_orchids on Ebay is offering seed at a reasonable price.

I have ordered and grown seed from this seller on several occasions and give her a thumbs up. she is NOT one of the scammers so common on Ebay.

Ophrys Seeds | eBay