Unknown orchid

[Hoy]

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?

[ashley]

Could it be Epipactis Trond?  The reddish tinge suggests E. palustris to me.

[Growild]

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.

[Hoy]

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:




The other plant:

[Growild]

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.

[SteveC2]

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!

[Growild]

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 

[Maggi Young]

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" 

[Growild]

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.

[Neil]

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.

[Maggi Young]

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.

[Maggi Young]

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.

[Maggi Young]

A wee note about fresh seed of some interesting things from "Growild"  ....
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12911.msg336581#msg336581