What Orchid?

[Valkyrie]

I've been told this is an orchid but what species is it? If it is an orchid of course!

Alex

[Dorts]

Hi Alex.
Yes, your plant is an orchid. It's White Helleborine - Cephalanthera damasonium, and a particularly good specimen. A species in Britain that is mainly confined to the southern chalk.
A lovely orchid.
Dorts.

Just out of interest Alex, where did you find this plant?

[Valkyrie]

That's brilliant, many thanks.

I do love this site, you're all so helpful.

Alex

[Jim Ford]

I agree with 'Dorts'. It's a _very_ good specimen - I don't think I've seen better! Normally they're quite straggly with just a few flowers.

If the flowers were more open I'd almost be inclined to go for Sword Leaved Helleborine, the leaves also seem quite narrow.

Where about did you find it (approximately if you're a bit 'coy' about revealing the exact location)?

Jim

[Dorts]

Yes, I agree Jim, it is as good a specimen of White Helleborine as I have seen, and at a first glance one may be mistaken in thinking it is a Sword-leaved H.
What distinguishes it from Sword-leaved H.are the broader, lower-leaves. And the rounder, less white, shorter-petalled flowers that barely open.
Having said that, Stace states the maximum number of florets found on C. damasonium is 16 and for C. longifoila it's 20. This plant has 22 that I can see!

I have seen the hybrid between these two species in Hants in 1975 (the only time it has been recorded), and if my memory is correct, it was totaly intermediate and had about 12-14 flowers on the stem, (I have a photo of it somewhere).
I am wondering if this was found abroad, and I await to hear from Alex with interest.
Dorts.

[alindsay]

What a fabulous find Alex

.....but further to the comments from Dorts & JIm and to add to the discussion, I photographed the attached plant in classic White Helleborine terrirory, Beech Woodland, South Beds (chalk) whereas Alex's plant looks to be in open shrubland, interesting...

......and Alex what time of year did you find yours?



My question is, do the flowers blossom out further, because my Mother (an absolute expert (amateur) in all things orchid) knows it as the poached egg Helleborine. I have never seen an illustration of this flower further open, so would like to confirm.

Thanks

[the young hunter]

Originally Posted by Dorts

I have seen the hybrid between these two species in Hants in 1975 (the only time it has been recorded)

Hi Dorts,

As far as I know, C. xschulzei has been recorded a number of times in Hampshire, infact there's a photo of it in one of my orchid books from May 2002.

In relation to the original post, my guess is this plant may be foreign, (French?) judging by its vigorousness and unusual looking habitat.

Mike.

[Valkyrie]

I do wish I'd taken this pic! I never saw the plant. It was taken by a member of staff at RAF Halton in the Aylesbury Vale one spring or summer but I don't know when. It's a big enough site for me to say so! This pic is going to be included in the conservation Website I'm creating for the Station.

I've told the photographer you all think it's a fine specimen and he's chuffed.

Thanks all!

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Hi Dorts,
As far as I know, C. xschulzei has been recorded a number of times in Hampshire, infact there's a photo of it in one of my orchid books from May 2002.
In relation to the original post, my guess is this plant may be foreign, (French?) judging by its vigorousness and unusual looking habitat.
Mike.

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.

As for the status of this plant at RAF Halton; C. longifolia doesn't grow in the Aylesbury area so cannot be considered as having any influence, which makes this specimen very unusual.

Originally Posted by alindsay

My question is, do the flowers blossom out further, because my Mother (an absolute expert (amateur) in all things orchid) knows it as the poached egg Helleborine. I have never seen an illustration of this flower further open, so would like to confirm.
Thanks

The flowers of C. damasonium never open as much as C. longifolia, but when in full bloom you can see the yellow centre of the egg-shaped flowers, hence the 'Poached Egg' name.
Dorts.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Dorts

The flowers of C. damasonium never open as much as C. longifolia, but when in full bloom you can see the yellow centre of the egg-shaped flowers, hence the 'Poached Egg' name.
Dorts.

I find that because they don't open fully and have an upright habit, rain/dew often seems to collect in the flowers and start rotting them.

Jim