A Beginners Guide to British Orchids

[leifus]

Broad-leaved Helleborine - Epipactis helleborine







Height: up to 90cm in the largest plants
Status: widespread and fairly common

Broad-leaved Helleborines are Britain's commonest helleborine, flowering from early July into early September, but are in their prime in early august. They are mainly found on chalk soils in both deciduous and coniferous woodland. They favour track verges where there is plenty of sunlight. It also occurs on limestone pavement and on dune slacks.

It is a classic helleborine and can easily be confused with all the Epipactis helleborines bar marsh helleborine. The broad leaves and flower structure separates this species and, if you know your terminology, the easiest way is to look for the two rough bosses on the of the epichile (the main bit of the lip).

It occurs widely across England and Wales as well as central Scotland.

Young's Helleborine is a variety of Broad-leaved Helleborine, Epipactis helleborine var. youngiana. It flowers in July

[leifus]

Narrow-lipped Helleborine - Epipactis leptochila







Height: up to 60cm

Status: local

Narrow-lipped Helleborine flowers from early june through to mid august in dense beech or hornbeam chalk woodland in the south and in birch/alder woodland on zinc and lead polluted river gravels in the north.

It is easily confused with all the Epipactis species except marsh helleborine but can be distinguished most easily by the flower structure which, shown in the photo below, sports a narrow pointed lip.



It's distribution in the UK is limited as it can only be found locally in the south with scattered populations in the North of England. It is a nationally scarce species.

[swissmiss]

Hi,

I think there were some orchids in the wildlife area around Kings Cross in London - not suprising as orchids are often quick to colonise recently disturbed soil. The best way to find orchids in your area is to link up with your local wildlife trust or natural history society - as well as being directed to the best spots to see them you might get the company of someone who can help you with the id

I've written a bit about orchids in Britain on Wild Orchids in Britain - some photos and writing about orchid spotting.

I think the earlier flowering orchids (Early Spider , Early Purple, Green-winged) are going to be flowering a bit later this year. I'm not so sure how much the cold winter will have effected the orchids which are out later on in the summer months.

[IanS]

Nice blog swissmiss! Welcome to WAB too.
Ian

[jdoherty]

I unexpectedly found this lone bee orchid in a patch of waste ground when I was taking photos in the Belfast harbour estate last summer. I hope it adds to your thread Leifus.

John

[leifus]

Dune Helleborine - Epipactis dunensis







Height: up to 60cm

Status: Rare

Dune Helleborine flowers from early June to mid August in moist areas of the coastal sand dunes of the north west (there are a couple of sites elsewhere in ash, birch and alder woodland on zinc and lead polluted soils).

It is easily confused with narrow-lipped and broad-leaved helleborines, but can be distinguished by studying the flower structure.