Ghost Orchid

[the young hunter]

Hi Deb London,

Orchids in general attract this kind of obession - something to do with their rarity, prefrence for fragile habitats and (often) delicate beauty in colour and form. The Ghost orchid is no exception to any of these and is certainly our rarest orchid not only because it's on the edge of it's range in Britain, but because it hardly ever appears (needing at least 2 consecutive wet springs and cold winters) and crucially because it lurks in the deepest darkest woods. This naturally makes it a target for orchid enthusiasts like myself even if it's not 5 feet tall, produces the nectar of the gods and comprises of a perfect colour scheme.

It's more of a quest for the holy grail, like searching for Nessie or Bigfoot, except in this case, the subject is more feasible. And anyway, I disagree that it's 'not particularly beautiful or interesting', it's a facinating species that we still do not fully understand, like how can it go missing for 60 years and then suddenly reappear? and What is the importance of fungal symbiosis to its survival?.

Michael Longley's poem 'The Ghost Orchid' perfectly sums it up:

'Added to its few remaining sites will be the stanza
I compose about leaves like flakes of skin, a colour
Dithering between pink and yellow, and then the root
That grows like coral among shadows and leaf-litter.
Just touching the petals bruises them into darkness.'

I intend to see it some day, and I'll keep searching until I do

Mike

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Brian, But were there also plenty of slugs?

Dorts.

Dear Dorts,
Sorry not replied sooner as internet down at work. Anyway there was a few of those orange slugs about but not a lot like I usually see. Hope to have another search in the Chilterns this weekend.
By the way nice pic there.

Brian Laney

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Deb London

FOUND ONE!

...
...
...

Only joking!

But what if I had? What is it about this species? I find myself fascinated by the hunt for the Ghost. Not by the plant itself. It's not particularly beautiful or interesting for any other reason, I don't think. But some people spend an extraordinary amount of time and effort looking for it. The internet is littered with phrases like "on Sunday I visited 3 potential sites and spent 5 hours looking" or "I spent all day in the Chilterns....might try again in a few days".

A more productive use of one's time must surely be to take a trip to Central Europe where you will have a thousand times more luck getting to see one. But I'm not knocking anyone. I really do admire the enthusiasm of some of these ghost hunters. It's second to nothing else I've witnessed. Especially as once found, it's likely to be a small little thing, virtually invisible to the naked eye, only seen by torchlight, and then only by people with eyes like hawks. And even then they'll have to blink or they'll miss it as a mass of frenzied slugs succumb to their desire to devour this gastropodal gastronomic goody.

So I'd like to wish all the ghost hunters out there the very best of luck. I won't be out there doing it myself, but I'll be with you all in spirit (groan). If nothing else, there is at least one spectator to this very British of all eccentricities.

Deb

Thanks Deb. Fingers crossed!!

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Hi Deb London,

Orchids in general attract this kind of obession - something to do with their rarity, prefrence for fragile habitats and (often) delicate beauty in colour and form. The Ghost orchid is no exception to any of these and is certainly our rarest orchid not only because it's on the edge of it's range in Britain, but because it hardly ever appears (needing at least 2 consecutive wet springs and cold winters) and crucially because it lurks in the deepest darkest woods. This naturally makes it a target for orchid enthusiasts like myself even if it's not 5 feet tall, produces the nectar of the gods and comprises of a perfect colour scheme.

It's more of a quest for the holy grail, like searching for Nessie or Bigfoot, except in this case, the subject is more feasible. And anyway, I disagree that it's 'not particularly beautiful or interesting', it's a facinating species that we still do not fully understand, like how can it go missing for 60 years and then suddenly reappear? and What is the importance of fungal symbiosis to its survival?.

Michael Longley's poem 'The Ghost Orchid' perfectly sums it up:

'Added to its few remaining sites will be the stanza
I compose about leaves like flakes of skin, a colour
Dithering between pink and yellow, and then the root
That grows like coral among shadows and leaf-litter.
Just touching the petals bruises them into darkness.'

I intend to see it some day, and I'll keep searching until I do

Mike

Love the poem, and thank you for the explanation and information. Ecologically it is certainly extraordinarily fascinating. The very best of luck with your search, Mike. I for one will never overlook a piece of suitable habitat at the right time of year again. I won't hunt it, exactly, but I'll certainly take more than a passing interest.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by lizard orchid

Thanks Deb. Fingers crossed!!

Yes, fingers crossed and the best of luck.

[lizard orchid]

Had a 4 and a half hour search in one Chilterns site in Oxon today. I was surprised to bump into someone else looking who had come from Somerset. Heard a few people were checking the day before in the Bucks site so good to hear some of the Chiltern sites are getting checked by a number of us at the moment.

Brian Laney, Botanist, Northamptonshire.