Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: mark smyth on October 14, 2015, 04:35:09 PM

Title: I found an Orchis/Ophrys tuber
Post by: mark smyth on October 14, 2015, 04:35:09 PM

Yesterday while rearranging pots in the sand plunge in the green house I found an Orchis or Ophrys tuber about a fingers depth in the sand. I have no idea how it got there. These pots are for Galanthus, Narcissus etc. Orchids are in a different plunge. I've had orchids since 2012. Could this be from seed? This tuber has survived a lot of watering and feeding. I don't remember it in leaf but it would have been hidden under a lot of leaves.

Title: Re: I found an Orchis/Ophrys tuber
Post by: Tristan_He on October 14, 2015, 08:30:30 PM

You lucky thing Mark! Could well be Ophrys in particular which seem quite good at colonising disturbed ground from seed. I've had Dactylorhiza appearing in plant pots and a neighbour of my mothers once had a greater butterfly orchid pop up among her Iris germanica.

Will be interested to hear what it is when it flowers....

Title: Re: I found an Orchis/Ophrys tuber
Post by: Tony Willis on October 14, 2015, 08:47:47 PM

I have had a self sown Ophrys lutea in a Cyclamen graecum pot for about five years.

Title: Re: I found an Orchis/Ophrys tuber
Post by: mark smyth on October 14, 2015, 10:41:19 PM

Great to see that Tony

Tristen I get Dactylorhiza in my Hosta crowns most years

Title: Re: I found an Orchis/Ophrys tuber
Post by: Yann on October 16, 2015, 07:15:16 PM

Excellent Tony!