Lesser Twayblade Site?

[the young hunter]

One species I need to see is lesser twayblade - it has so far illuded me. I wondered if anyone had been to 'Roman Steps' in Wales as this is supposedly a good site for the species? It's also the closest site I know to the West Midlands, (where I live).

Anyone know any nearer sites to the West Midlands than this site?? I know it's an upland species so I'm going to have to travel pretty far to find one...

PM if you know a site please.



cheers..............mike

[ceterach]

Hi

The Elan Valley is a bit nearer and you can find it there!


If you want to see it in profusion, try the Pentland Hills south of Edinburgh, long way I know but.....


All the best

[the young hunter]

Thanks for your reply but I went to Elan valley, (an area I know well) and they said it hadn't been seen for 15 years!!!

I think that's my best plan - go to a place where it is very common! Thankyou for telling me about this site

Do you have good directions to an exact site within the hills by any chance? - finding orchids that are 3 inches high in some hills is quite hard


mike

[ceterach]

Listen young lad, if you are not willing to tramp for two days over hill and dale looking for a small plant, orchid or otherwise you can't be very interested!!!

Seriously though, there are not many roads right into the hills but if you go down the northern side of the Pentland Hills (A70) there are one or two roads that go to picnic sites etc. Similarly from the south side (A702). Then start walking up the valleys and look in the bogs on the steep sides of the valleys. The numbers can be huge in some years (it is all relative for a southerner like me!!). They are at their peak at the end of July.

As far as the Elan Valley is concerned, well who knows! A lot of these places are drying out. One site I knew in Devon where it grew, as usual in Sphagnum tussocks in the middle of a bog, is now bone dry.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by ceterach

They are at their peak at the end of July.

The ones I've found near Loch Garten are well gone over by late July.

Jim

[Jim Ford]

As 'The Young Hunter' just wants to get out of a car and walk a few meters for his botany, how about this:
;^)



I wouldn't normally post detailed instructions for an orchid, but as Lesser Twayblades are difficult to find, rather than rare, I've done so here.

I found they've gone over by late July - I would think late June would be better, but I can never get up there then.

Culbin Forest near Forres is said to be good for Lesser Twayblades, but I've spent three full exhausting days there and not seen any. Mind you, there's more Creeping Ladys Tresses than you can shake a stick at!

Jim

[the young hunter]

[quote=ceterach;328005]Listen young lad, if you are not willing to tramp for two days over hill and dale looking for a small plant, orchid or otherwise you can't be very interested!!!

Well I never! My mom can testify that virtually every bog, forest, meadow and hill in the country has been tramped across by my worn and tired feet during the last 10 years!

Thankyou for the info though, it will be very useful for me

As for flowering times, I thought lesser twayblade was at it's best in early June if I'm honest.


mike

[ceterach]

[quote=the young hunter;328114]

Originally Posted by ceterach

As for flowering times, I thought lesser twayblade was at it's best in early June if I'm honest.


mike

Mike and Jim

Lesser Twayblade has a long flowering period and that is why I mentioned it. I have seen them up there at least three times over twenty years and they have been in full bloom at the end of July.

Perhaps there is someone more local than me (!!!) who can comment.

Down south they flower in early June

All the best

[Jim Ford]

[quote=ceterach;328582]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Mike and Jim

Lesser Twayblade has a long flowering period and that is why I mentioned it. I have seen them up there at least three times over twenty years and they have been in full bloom at the end of July.

If you look at the exif of this one you'll see it was taken on the 14th July. This is the top bloom and is well gone over and had set seed.



Jim

[the young hunter]

I have to say that I've never seen any photos of lesser twayblade in full bloom taken at any time in July, maybe you have some photos for evidence

I'm sure that even in one colony however, flowering is not synchronized but I didn't know there could be such a wide variation in flowering period



mike