Alsike Clover & Dactylorhiza Query

[KeenTeen17]

Is alsike clover the hybrid between white and red clover? I was wondering because its species name is hybridum

I just need to know because I'm getting some notes together for a slideshow I'm doing on the 15th March

Also how do you identify between the flowers of common spotted, southern and northern marsh orchids.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

Is alsike clover the hybrid between white and red clover? I was wondering because its species name is hybridum

No it is a real species. A few other non-hybrid plants are similarly named, e.g. Petasites hybridus

[IanS]

Flower shape and colour plus a good book!

Its the hybrid swarms that are the real problem with IDing these plants. The true species are fairly easy to determine.

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by IanS

Flower shape and colour plus a good book!

Its the hybrid swarms that are the real problem with IDing these plants. The true species are fairly easy to determine.

please don't even mention hybrids. I remember going on a trip to find the narrow leaved marsh orchid and we found a potential but it was IDed as the hybrid between Northern Marsh and Narrow Leaved.

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

Also how do you identify between the flowers of common spotted, southern and northern marsh orchids.

KT, its not easy, partic in the field (!) , but there are some sites and books which are a good help - Collins is one, to an extent, see this as an example-

An in depth book like Clapham Tutin and Warburg is definitive in descriptions - the problem I find is that there are some crossovers between species to make life tough.
There must be a website with pics,surely?
I await an expert on this with interest!
Hope this helps a little
Ken

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by diggleken

KT, its not easy, partic in the field (!) , but there are some sites and books which are a good help - Collins is one, to an extent, see this as an example-

An in depth book like Clapham Tutin and Warburg is definitive in descriptions - the problem I find is that there are some crossovers between species to make life tough.
There must be a website with pics,surely?
I await an expert on this with interest!
Hope this helps a little
Ken

thanks Ken. thats perfect. I'm doing a talk on flowers and orchids, so just wanted to know how to tell the flowers apart from a photo. These will do perfectly

[JennyS]

There must be a website with pics,surely?

Yes! Here are a couple of links.....

Home: Britain's Orchids

ORCHIDS of EUROPE WEB SITE

UK Wildflowers - Orchids