some beauties just flowering

[fredg]

She had D. elata, not in my book, for sale but it looked very like what I have as Alex Duguid. I think my Alex Duguid is Dactylorhiza purpurella.

A German site has it as Dactylorhiza elata 'Alex Duguid'

[mark smyth]

here are the leaves of my ?Alex Duguid

[mark smyth]

Fred, what's the link?

[fredg]

http://www.ppp-index.de/L1BYP0c9RGFjdHlsb3JoaXphJkE9ZWxhdGEmTUlEPTM3NDM.html

[Tony Willis]

Following on from Peter's pictures of Dactylorhiza majalis ssp purpurella in NE England I visited a lovely site on Shap at the weekend. The orchids were doing well and now Listera ovata has appeared is doing very well but not yet in flower. My last picture is of some growing there in 2006 but these seem to have been destroyed by roadworks and are now recolonising. This is not a problem as they were growing in the verge where the road had originally been constructed and are now just spreading back again.

[Peter Maguire]

If anyone is looking for another forum to join/lurk on  , here's one that seems to have been missed:
http://terrorchid.org/
I've found it quite useful for information on cultivation

[goofy]

hey,
the last Cyps are coming:

Cypripedium kentuckiense cv. 'John'


Cypripedium Lothar Pinkepank (Hybrid)


and some of the Dactylorhizas are coming:

Dactylorhiza maculata variegata
foliage


flower


Dactylorhiza Unknown (bought as D. foliosa 'dark' from Laneside)


Dactylorhiza Eskimo Nell (Hybrid)


Spiranthes romanzoffiana


enjoy

[Peter Maguire]

In case anyone is wondering why Tony referred to the Dactylorhiza photos of mine as Dactylorhiza majalis ssp purpurella, where I had labelled them Dactylorhiza purpurella (and I was confused), this link, accessed via the terrestrial orchid forum website mentioned above, explains it all:
http://culturesheet.org/orchidaceae:dactylorhiza.
Essentially, if you carry out DNA studies, you divide Dactylorhizas into five groups, D majalis being one of them, which contain the 'species'. Whether the species names are therefore valid depends on whether you prefer to go by DNA characteristics or botanical characterisitcs. In a rapidly speciating genus like Dactylorhiza, it can be difficult to reply solely on gross botanical features. If you favour the 'botanical' approach, D purpurella has precedence and is the valid name according to the IPNI database.
So essentially we're both right  
That's now clear then  

[Tony Willis]

Peter I noticed that I had quoted the name differently to you after I had posted and thought what a mess they are. My books are old like I am getting but I am also cynical and just wait for the names to come around again.

The article you quote is very interesting but having watched the discussion on the identification of o'kellyi , and seeing the definitive article pronouncing it a species having been posted ,I note the article you refer to defines it as a synonym.

I think identification depends on whom you are reading on a particular day.

As you say thats clear then!

[Tony Willis]

some pictures of Platanthera chlorantha not showy but very elegant.

[Hristo]

Tony, superb specimen!!

[mark smyth]

Mine is flowering now also thanks to a kind forum member. Here's a tight shot of a flower

[Slug Killer]

Ophrys apifera flowering in my greenhouse.

Any tips on pollinating this one as I'd like some more seed to flask.

[Hristo]

Dave,
O.apifera is self pollinating so make yourself a Pimms, pour a beer etc and wait for it to do the hard work for you! 

[fredg]

This Platanthera chlorantha got a little confused, it has conjoined flower stems.