Post exams - a week of wildflowers (:

leifus · #1 (**permalink**) 21-06-2010, 08:24 PM

I've finished my exams now and I have a lot planned this week which I'd like to share. I hope you enjoy it and don't get too jealous

leifus · #2 (**permalink**) 21-06-2010, 08:26 PM

DAY 1

I visited a farm in my village which I happened to notice was rather good for arable plants last year. The three highlights of my visit were rough poppy, fine-leaved fumitory and absolutely loads of field gromwell (swathes all round the field).

leifus · #3 (**permalink**) 21-06-2010, 08:38 PM

DAY 2

We went down to Purbeck today and our first stop brought portland spurge and small cudweed.

We then had lunch and visited a favourite site of mine where I found knotted hedge-parsley and the fantastically-named corky-fruited water-dropwort

then I was treated to bee orchids and some Thesium humifusum (xexexexe toadflax)

a further search brought grass vetchling and yellow vetchling as well as another fine umbellifer, this time in the form of pepper-saxifrage

finally I managed hound's-tongue and one early gentian

other nice things included wild madder, wild clary, pyramidal orchids, dyer's-greenweed and pale flax

Back at home I visited my favourite local site where there was knapweed broomrape and lots of chalk fragrant orchids

A rather good day...

Boddie · #4 (**permalink**) 21-06-2010, 08:39 PM

Well done on passing your exams, I know the feeling - mine are ongoing, with more over the next two days.

Hope you enjoy your time

Dorts · #5 (**permalink**) 21-06-2010, 09:47 PM

'leifus'
The single Bee Orchid in profile, (7th. pic down), looks remarkably like
O. apifera var. belgarum to me. So you may have another to add to your excelent list.
Good hunting.
Dorts.

leifus · #6 (**permalink**) 22-06-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorts

'leifus'
The single Bee Orchid in profile, (7th. pic down), looks remarkably like
O. apifera var. belgarum to me. So you may have another to add to your excelent list.
Good hunting.
Dorts.

wow

if it helps to confirm, all the bee orchid photos are of the same plant

pammosley · #7 (**permalink**) 22-06-2010, 08:17 AM

Lovely photos Leifus. I hope your exams have gone well, enjoy your time off

the young hunter · #8 (**permalink**) 22-06-2010, 03:35 PM

Hi Lief,

I'm in that post exam time myself - all the big A2s out the way!

Just been down to Kent and did the 'rarity run' - Lizards, Late-spiders and suprisingly, a few Monkeys still in flower!

Also found some Man orchids which I wasn't expecting and a perfect Bee orchid, with a stop off at the Red helleborines on the way back....loving not having any work to do

Mike

Dorts · #9 (**permalink**) 22-06-2010, 04:48 PM

'leifus'
I have had a close look at your possible Ophrys apifera var belgarum.
Now , like all ophrys vars. there will always be subtle differences in different parts of the country.
Taking that into account I'm prepared to say that, that is what you have got.

I have posted one of my pics. of var. belgarum in the 'Orchid Gallery'.
(should be available for viewing shortly), for others to judge yours by.
Dorts.

the young hunter · #10 (**permalink**) 22-06-2010, 07:25 PM

Hi 'Dorts',

I was wondering why you think this Bee orchid is a 'var. belgarum'?

I thought that this variation was characterised by a lack of side lobes, no speculum and much wider yellow vertical stripes and yellow horizontal band.

I can sort of see that it has vague 'var. belgarum' characteristics but surely it's not the classic specimen as shown in orchid books?

Obviously, the fiddley world of variations is on a continuum and I would personally place this plant as an intermediate.

Mike