Bee Orchids

[Shiner]

Hi I have a Bee Orchid spike at the bottom of my drive with a good number of flowers on it ( only one spike ) is there any way I can collect the seeds and relocate it.
The only reason I noticed it is because I haven't had to mow the verge cos its been so dry here (I live in the far east of Suffolk)
Any advise would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[Izice]

Originally Posted by lizard orchid

Is that the colliery site??

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

No its a different site. I believe the only one in Scotland now due to said colliery site being developed.

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Shiner

Hi I have a Bee Orchid spike at the bottom of my drive with a good number of flowers on it ( only one spike ) is there any way I can collect the seeds and relocate it.
The only reason I noticed it is because I haven't had to mow the verge cos its been so dry here (I live in the far east of Suffolk)
Any advise would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Wait until the seed capsules are completely brown and splitting, the seed is like dust. The wind will be the best way of the seed being distributed about and the seed can travel many miles.
Now you have one plant turned up there is a good chance more might well pop up especially in a lawn if you have one. The bluey green rosettes are quite distinct during the winter months.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Mele

Hi Brian

Are bee orchids having a particularly good year? I found a colony of 60 (possibly a new site) in Beds yesterday. Took me by surprise, as I walked right past them initially. They were in a small copse, under trees in pretty rank grassland. Fortuitously I met the farmer (who didn't know about them), who said he'd strim in the winter. They were only small plants and past their best, but hey quite made my day!

Mel

With the reports I am hearing from fellow orchid people, botanists, etc it seems to vary but the dry spring has had an impact.
One site in Warwickshire numbers are down and plants stunted, luckily the recent rains have helped in time.
I have not really been in many of the main spots where bee orchid grows this year but the plants I have seen both here in Northamptonshire as well as one site in Warwickshire have been a good size considering the weather we have had.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[lizard orchid]

Do keep a look out everyone on bee orchids you see incase it is one of the many varieties we get here in the UK. David Lang's orchid book on page 152 has photographs of them all. There is a very good chance new sites for any of these varieties to turn up anywhere. Some of these varieties are still quite scarce such as Ophrys apifera var bicolor.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Izice

No its a different site. I believe the only one in Scotland now due to said colliery site being developed.

It shows I was having a mind block here. Of course East Ayreshire was the collery site. I was not thinking. Anyway a great shame if being developed. It was a good site for a number of interesting plant species.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[Izice]

Originally Posted by lizard orchid

Is that the colliery site??

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

Rare orchid found on Chapelcross nuclear site

By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 09:00, Saturday, 02 July 2011

A rare bee orchid, which was thought to be extinct in Scotland until recently, has been spotted at Chapelcross site, near Annan in Dumfriesshire.
Bee orchid photo
Bee orchid

The flower, which has protected status in some countries, was confirmed by one of the site’s environment team as part of a recent biodiversity study.

Jim Rae, ranger from Eskrigg Nature Reserve at Lockerbie, was invited onto the site to formally identify the orchid. The flower is usually only found in coastal locations of South East England.

The orchid’s environment inside Chapelcross site – which is currently in the process of de-fueling - is part of the Nuclear Licensed Site and is protected by the enforcement of strict security and environmental regulations and procedures.

Anne Marie Gemmell, from Chapelcross’ environment team, said: “It is extremely exciting to have these special flowers on the site. It’s a testament to Magnox’s approach to the environment that we have found such a rare orchid growing here.”

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Izice

Rare orchid found on Chapelcross Nuclear site
By Pam McClounie
Last updated at 09:00, Saturday, 02 July 2011
A rare bee orchid, which was thought to be extinct in Scotland until recently, has been spotted at Chapelcross site, near Annan in Dumfriesshire.
The flower is usually only found in coastal locations of South East England.

It is excelent news that the Bee Orchid is being found in patures new.
But the statement that it is "usually only found in coastal locations of South East England.", is a little misleading as the Distribution Map below shows.

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

Dorts.

[Izice]

Originally Posted by Dorts

It is excelent news that the Bee Orchid is being found in patures new.
But the statement that it is "usually only found in coastal locations of South East England.", is a little misleading as the Distribution Map below shows.

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

Dorts.

Your not kidding, bit wide of the mark with that comment.

The location for Chapelcross needs to be added to the map.

[Meta menardi]

Am I right in thinking that the Bee Orchid is known for sporadic appearance over a number of years? I have found it in quite a large area 4 years out of five, but never in exactly the same place. Can't find it this year, but a part of the same area has a growing population of Pyramidal orchids, over 30 this year.

And I always swore I would not get into orchids, your mind keeps clicking up sites, and you just have to go and look.