Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Hoy on July 01, 2015, 10:39:41 AM

Title: Unknown orchid
Post by: Hoy on July 01, 2015, 10:39:41 AM
This orchid appeared now in my woodland. I have never seen it before and I have certainly not planted it! Unfortunately no flowers to identify it but I have one or two suspects ;). The biggest leaf is 12cm x 2.5cm. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: ashley on July 01, 2015, 11:04:40 AM
Could it be Epipactis Trond?  The reddish tinge suggests E. palustris to me.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Growild on July 01, 2015, 01:51:48 PM
As it has just appeared in your woodland I'd suggest Epipactis helleborine? Funnily enough I've just discovered a small group of these here which were not here previously.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Hoy on July 01, 2015, 08:21:34 PM
Thank you for your suggestions :) It could be a Epipactis but not palustris as it is rather dry where it grows.

I found some similar plants not very far away. One plant is in bud. Does it look like E. helleborine? I thought the leaves should be broader?


Leaf of my plant:

[attach=1]


The other plant:

[attach=2]

[attach=3]

[attach=4]
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Growild on July 01, 2015, 10:24:37 PM
It is Epipactis for sure  :) Look forward to seeing the flowers open from your nearby plant and hope they are a little more exciting than E. helleborine. I used to live in Glasgow where they grow like weeds in peoples front gardens and many plants had much more narrower leaves than you would imagine (given the name Broad-Leaved) especially in younger plants.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: SteveC2 on July 02, 2015, 01:09:04 AM
Other than palustris I am not sure that Epipactis flowers come any more exciting than E. helleborine.  I like the blob of jam in the middle!
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Growild on July 02, 2015, 10:26:17 AM
Other than palustris I am not sure that Epipactis flowers come any more exciting than E. helleborine.  I like the blob of jam in the middle!

Think I've been rather spoilt Steve seeing them everywhere in the past in Glasgow - there was even a good colony of them growing in our local retail park in full sun  :)
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Maggi Young on July 02, 2015, 10:47:38 AM
I have heard before of the abundance of  "feral"Epipactis growing in Glasgow. Not that it is any comfort to me - having failed on several occasions to get the blasted things growing here in Aberdeen.  :'(  We've tried it in various places in the garden to no avail.  "sigh"  :(
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Growild on July 03, 2015, 09:04:25 AM
That's a shame Maggi if you wanted some fresh seed from the little colony I've just found here (growing at the back of the old farm bull pen) to try and sprinkle round can send you some in the autumn.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Neil on July 03, 2015, 11:03:31 AM
Maggi

They need a fungal partner to survive, if you are sowing the seeds in the garden then sprinkle them around a hazel tree.  There are very difficult to grow invitro.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Maggi Young on July 03, 2015, 01:07:37 PM
That's a shame Maggi if you wanted some fresh seed from the little colony I've just found here (growing at the back of the old farm bull pen) to try and sprinkle round can send you some in the autumn.

Thanks, Lisa -  that would be super.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Maggi Young on July 03, 2015, 01:08:07 PM
Maggi

They need a fungal partner to survive, if you are sowing the seeds in the garden then sprinkle them around a hazel tree.  There are very difficult to grow invitro.

Thanks Neil.
Title: Re: Unknown orchid
Post by: Maggi Young on July 03, 2015, 07:15:35 PM
A wee note about fresh seed of some interesting things from "Growild"  ....
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12911.msg336581#msg336581 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12911.msg336581#msg336581)
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