Two Orchis species in Spain

[Louis_W]

Now that it is spring here in Extremadura, Spain, I have been out looking for flowering plants. The lavenders, brooms, Euphorbias and Irises have been putting on a spectacular show, but I must admit I have a favorite: the orchids. There is something about finding orchids in the wild that is special. Its as if they in perfect focus and everything else is a little blurry. I was on the hunt for Ophrys, but instead I found two orchids from the original orchid genus: Orchis.

If you are interested here is a great guide on the orchids of Extremadura. Its a free downloadable PDF. Jost go the the link and click where it says "Guia Completa" Its all in Spanish but it is full of photos of every species.
retamatour.com - Proyecto Orquídea - index.



The first three photos are Orchis conica

I found this one growing all over the mountainside. There was thousands of them, most were pink with deep purple spots on the lip and brownish striping inside the two dorsal petals which are not visible from the outside. Some where nearly all white with no spots on the lip and only a light lavender color on the petals and sepals. These seemed to be loners and I only saw a few blooming two spikes on the same plant. I found one plant which was already developing pods and even one with two flowers fused together.

the last two are Orchis champagneuxii

I found a few of these growing alone but the majority were found in two massive colonies (Photo) with hundreds of rosettes covering the ground for about a square meter. It was still early for these and most were still in bud.

[Louis_W]

If you are curious here are photos of the white form and the two fused flowers.

I just noticed that the whiter form has a slightly different shape than the more purple one in the post above. The two lobes on the lip and narrower and the main lobe of the lip is barely cleft where the more purple one has quite a large divide. I suppose that it could be due to nutrient content or sun exposure, but perhaps it is actually a genetically different form. They are really varied even within the same population.

The fused flowers appeared to have two lips, two columns, three dorsal sepals two normal petals, and perhaps three lateral sepals. It was an interesting one!

[IncredibleOrchids]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[Zoi2]

Amazing plants and photos!
Joann

[camille1585]

Great pics, thanks! I can't wait for it to be orchid season in the Alps, there are so many species growing not far from where I live in France. Hope you'll spot some Ophrys soon!

[Louis_W]

camille1585- I know what you mean! I walked out the door of my house, down the street, across the river and up the mountain. No car needed! It was so satisfying to be able to do that and find myself in such a beautiful place. I was out all afternoon (you dont work in the afternoon here in spain) I imagine the alps are sooo beautiful too! Good luck and you will know when I find the Ophrys because ill be so exited ill post them the minute I get home!

[camille1585]

Well, I don't live as close as you do, I need to drive an hour to get to the mountains! But I do have a huge colony of Orchis mascula nearly in my backyard in France. I've been collecting and dispersing seed for a few years, and now there are over 100 plants in one small area. Helping mother nature along!

[Louis_W]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I've been collecting and dispersing seed for a few years, and now there are over 100 plants in one small area.

Wow! That worked!? Thats great!

[Tindomul]

Wow, that is something awesome!!!!!! Just beautiful. Great pictures and thanks for sharing.

[RosieC]

Love those pictures. The Orchis conica reminds me of the Dactylorhiza I saw in the wild a few years back. So exciting to see anything like this in the wild.