What Orchid?

[the young hunter]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Hi Mike, thanks for that up-date. I left Hants in 2001, so was no longer on the grapevine for that find, though I did hear it had appeared a couple of times since it first appeared, but I could never get confirmation from a reliable source.

C. x schulzei was first found by my dear old friend, John Lansley in 1974. He did more to foster my interest in orchids than anyone. It's good to hear that the hybrid still pops-up now and again.

Just out of interest, it was John Lansley who discovered the Military Orchids at Mildenhall, Suffolk.
He lived just up the road from where C. x schulzei was first found, at the well know C. longifolia site
in N. Hants.

Hi Dorts

Didn't realise it was so rare! I think Leifus has a photo of it in the Gallery so maybe it's one re-occurring plant.
Never knew about John Lansley discovering the Suffolk site though...I'd always, (I suppose foolishly) assumed Rex Graham had discovered it but it must've just been named after him for his input to Orchidology, (particularly the Ghost orchid find in 1953).

I'd love to visit the Hampshire site, it sounds and looks facinating. Still, we've got our own C. longfolias on the banks of the Dyfi estuary up here, (the largest Welsh population) so there's no rush!

Those White Helleborines are amazingly robust for Britain. If only they were on an accessible reserve!

Mike.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Hi Dorts

Didn't realise it was so rare! I think Leifus has a photo of it in the Gallery so maybe it's one re-occurring plant.
Never knew about John Lansley discovering the Suffolk site though...I'd always, (I suppose foolishly) assumed Rex Graham had discovered it but it must've just been named after him for his input to Orchidology, (particularly the Ghost orchid find in 1953).

I'd love to visit the Hampshire site, it sounds and looks facinating. Still, we've got our own C. longfolias on the banks of the Dyfi estuary up here, (the largest Welsh population) so there's no rush!
Those White Helleborines are amazingly robust for Britain. If only they were on an accessible reserve!
Mike.

Re: C. x schulzei. Stace states in his 1st. Edition, that it has only appeared in the years 1974-5. at the N. Hants site. I, as I say have never had a confirmed record since, other than the one you have mentioned in 2002.

C. longifolia is more common around Petersfield, Hants than anywhere in the country. In some Petersfield gardens I've seen many dozens of plants flowering like weeds in garden flower-beds!

Re. Military at Mildenhall.
John Lansley told me he was not alone when the orchids were discovered. He did tell me the name of his friend, but this was back in the late 60's, and I can't remember who he said it was. Perhaps it was Rex Graham?
What I do remember was, that he said they stopped to have a 'pee', and walked towards the area where the orchids were; that's how they were found!

The C. damasonium that is photographed here,

represents an interesting discovery, and broadens our knowledge of its capabilities in Britain.
Dorts.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Those White Helleborines are amazingly robust for Britain. If only they were on an accessible reserve!

There are some very tall white helleborines at Aston Clinton Ragpits, which is about a mile or so from Halton. Last year they were getting on for 500mm tall. I didn't check them this year, but will do so next. Maybe the ones in the OP's image are actually from, or related to, the ones in the Ragpits (which is a great orchid site).

Jim

[IanS]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

There are some very tall white helleborines at Aston Clinton Ragpits, which is about a mile or so from Halton. Last year they were getting on for 500mm tall. I didn't check them this year, but will do so next. Maybe the ones in the OP's image are actually from, or related to, the ones in the Ragpits (which is a great orchid site).

Jim

I second that Jim. Aston Clinton is a fabulous site. I went there this summer and saw masses of orchids....