Pyramidal orchid (a particular variant?)

[leifus]

I took this the other day. Is it a particular named variation or just a normal pyramidal with a slightly different flower?

[IanS]

According to Harrap there are 5 varieties and the closest to your plant looks like emarginata which has an unlobbed lip. Yours is close but I dont think it would be classified as this variety.

Ian

[leifus]

Originally Posted by IanS

According to Harrap there are 5 varieties and the closest to your plant looks like emarginata which has an unlobbed lip. Yours is close but I dont think it would be classified as this variety.

Ian

yeaah, I that was the closest I got, so it's a typical form. Oh well, still a lovely plant

thanks

[Dorts]

There are many forms of Pyramidal Orchid, some have been described, others not. The more you look at this species, the more variation you will find, admitedly sometimes very subtle.
Leif's plant is as Ian has suggested, getting very close to var. emarginata, a variety in which the labellum is entire.

One of the early discoveries of this var. was made by Arthur Hoare in Sussex and by myself in Hampshire in the same year, in the early 1980's.

I have not come across Leif's form before, (yet another var.?) and it may well be worth looking closely at other plants in the nearby population,where perhaps a true emarginata may be found.

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Well done on passing 3000 posts by the way Leif. It has been noted in the appropriate place.
Dorts.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by Dorts

There are many forms of Pyramidal Orchid, some have been described, others not. The more you look at this species, the more variation you will find, admitedly sometimes very subtle.
Leif's plant is as Ian has suggested, getting very close to var. emarginata, a variety in which the labellum is entire.

One of the early discoveries of this var. was made by Arthur Hoare in Sussex and by myself in Hampshire in the same year, in the early 1980's.

I have not come across Leif's form before, (yet another var.?) and it may well be worth looking closely at other plants in the nearby population,where perhaps a true emarginata may be found.

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Well done on passing 3000 posts by the way Leif. It has been noted in the appropriate place.
Dorts.

i believe there was only one other spike in that place, but I shall go and have another look! It was in a field that threw up a greater butterfly orchid a few years ago - a lovely surprise! (it was in the field behind my house which was subsequently ploughed up! )

Thank you very much!

[jeffnsue]

Here's the other extreme, a plant with deeply indented lip. Photo taken this weekend in the Shropshire hills south of Oswestry.

Jeff

[Dorts]

The more I see of this species, the more it confirms my contention that it is an extremely variable orchid.
This is yet another 'form' I have not seen before.
Most interesting.
Thanks for that Jeff.
Dorts.

[Johnny81]

Makes you wonder how many more variants are really out there. The taxonomists may have a field day!

[jeffnsue]

Harrop & Harrop refers to var angustiloba as having 'a very deeply lobed lip'.
I guess it would be presumptious to assume my plant is angustiloba.

I was bitten to bits by tiny red ants while taking that photograph but it seems it was worth it.

Jeff

[leifus]

this is fascinating, I knew pyramidal orchids were a variable species, just from experience, but not until recently did I know there were named variations..