Killard Wildflowers for ID

[jdoherty]

The following photographs were taken in May 2009 along the coast at Killard Nature Reserve, County Down Northern Ireland. I think the first is a Sand Pansy and the second an Early Purple Orchid. I've no idea about the third photo of the very small blue flowers. Can anyone confirm the IDs and/or provide IDs.

Thanks, John.

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi jd,

Your blue flower looks like Common Milkwort - Polygala vulgaris.

It's difficult to get an overall sense of scale from the pic., so there's a possibility that it could be Heath Milkwort - P.serpyllifolia, which is almost identical but smaller, (with basal leaves in opposite pairs if you have a photo which would show that).

Regards
Mike.

[IanS]

hi
Your orchid is green winged. Look inside some of the flowers and you will see dark green lines. the classic id for the species...

3rd is defo a milkwort, probably common.
1st is a pansy - but you knew that!

[leifus]

1 wild pansy - the petal shape doesn't look right for field pansy although it is whitish at the top...someone will confirm - also it looks like a more grassy area rather than arable so I'm going for wild pansy - possibly ssp. tricolor
2 green-winged orchid
3 common milkwort

[jdoherty]

The reason I thought it was a Sand Pansy was that the pic was taken in a grassy area at the coast and seemed to match all the details in this link.

Wildflower Pansy, Sand Wildflowers of Ireland

Any thoughts?

John