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Orchis mascula. Orchis mâle. Male orchid. The male Orchis is part of the genus Orchis, largely amputated from many species now classified in the genera Anacamptis or Dactylorhiza. Orchis are tuberous orchids, usually have two which gave them their Greek name Orchis which means testicle. One of the tubers allows the plant to grow while the second forms during this same period and will replace the original tuber which gradually withers the following year. If we were to dig up an orchid (which I of course prohibit), we would therefore find the tuber of the year more or less withered, the tuber in the making for the future season and sometimes an old one totally withered from the previous year. Orchids are fairly tall plants (20 to 60 cm), rather robust and easily spotted in meadows, wastelands or light undergrowth. The preferred soils are generally calcareous or marly and rather dry. The male orchid is of medium size, usually 15 to 30 cm, sometimes up to 50 cm. The stem is relatively thick, the leaves spread on the ground or sheathing and spotted ( but not always and this will therefore not be a distinctive criterion ). The flowers are brightly colored ranging from pink to purple with a white central part speckled with red. Generally, the numerous or not many flowers are grouped and touch each other. The male orchid is found almost everywhere in France, mainly on calcareous soils and up to 2000 meters, which makes it one of the most common orchids in our country. The plant likes cool meadows and roadsides. It flowers from April to the end of June depending on the region and altitude. Identification does not normally pose problems, but in recent years several species have been described that were previously considered to be simple variants of Orchis mascula: Orchis ichnusae (only in Corsica), Orchis olbiensis (only around the Mediterranean), Orchis langei (found in the Pyrenees) in particular. Given the very wide distribution of Orchis male and possible variability, separating these latter species from the "mascula" species may prove very difficult. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neotinea lactea. Orchis lacté. Milky orchid. Neotinea lactea is very close to Neotinea tridentata or Neotinea conica and there is great confusion between these species. The iconography of the authors can also be questioned because it sometimes does not match the descriptions, varying greatly from one guide to another... We must therefore remain cautious before stating with certainty which species it is: conica, tridentata or lactea. The differences concern, among other things, the size of the flowers or the shape of the floral stem: more conical for N conica , more cylindrical for N lactea . Since many plants are pauciflorous, it is almost impossible to certify whether the stem is conical or cylindrical... I am not afraid to state that when observing in the field, these variations exist within the same station and therefore appear to be not very discriminating if they are different species. Even though the only way to correctly identify a "difficult" species is to find several individuals with the same characteristics! And the risk of hybridization would be high for plants sharing the same biotope and flowering at the same time. In the current state of the descriptions of the different guides which present few photos and descriptions insufficiently discriminating, I grouped my views under N lactea not having encountered a station with enough specimens with conical stem to claim to have encountered it. However, it is almost impossible to be mistaken when you come across it and to confuse it with other neotinea (ustulata or maculata). The stems are quite stocky and the plant is often not very tall. The flowers are white or pink in color and pigmented. The helmet is streaked with green like Anacamptis morio (Jewel orchid). Click on the photos to enlarge

Selection of books and guides on orchids from France and Europe. Below you will find a selection of books and guides related to orchids. For each book, the main data are mentioned as well as the availability (without guarantee) from booksellers or from the publisher. The books presented are recent and can be easily found new or used. Only the links to the publisher are activated when the book is still available on its site. Orchid guides France Orchid guides France regions Orchid Guides Europe Orchid guides Europe countries Complementary orchid books Artistic Orchid Books France guides Orchids from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. (Collective of authors under the aegis of the French Orchid Society) Biotope Editions . 500 pages. 17x24 format and weight not very compatible (1500 g) as a field guide. Published 2005, second edition. Publisher price €45. Ean code 9782914817110 The best book on French Orchids: presents each species with the identification keys. The iconographic base remains summary (2 to 3 views) and will be the only notable flaw of this guide. The introductory part of almost 150 pages is without a doubt the best documented of the current guides and is almost worth buying the book on its own. A distribution map by department and criterion/color (Common, localized, rare, disappeared, absent) will prove very useful for directing your research. Random distribution, publisher break. Available on the FFO website. New version coming in 2025... in principle. Guide to orchids in France, Switzerland and the Benelux. (Pierre Delforge) Editions Delachaux and Niestlé . 350 pages. 13x20 format, almost practical as a field guide. Weight 800 g. Published in 2021, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Publisher price €29.90. Ean code 9782603027820 An introductory part of about thirty pages. A few identification keys embellish this book which suffers from insufficient iconography (2 views per species most often). The descriptive part, although very useful, could be more complete if the author limited the supporting elements of nomenclature or taxonomy which are otherwise subjects of discord with regard to him and which sometimes take up too much of the pagination. The distribution maps are intended to be very precise but the scale proposed does not allow to locate a place sought on these maps and even less to validate the certain, probable or uncertain presence of a species via its geographical presence. This apparent precision is therefore not of great help for the determination of a taxon. Its size and weight (800 g all the same...) allow you to take it with you, but taking it out of your bag to identify an orchid in the field seems time-consuming and often doomed to failure. It is better to photograph as much as possible the orchid encountered (entire plant, flower from several angles) and look at all this calmly on your return. Failure to respect the current (official) nomenclature could waste the neophyte's time. The strong points lie in the quality of the descriptions and, even with the reservations expressed, the considerable scientific background of the work. Available Petits formats et petits prix mais vont dans la poche ou le sac à dos ! Guide to common orchids of France by F Jouandoudet (Editions Sud-ouest) 60 p. 35 species, so probably not enough, but it can be a start. Description and cartography are nevertheless strong points of this mini guide that you can easily take with you. Random availability out of stock publisher. Guide to the orchids of France . Find and recognize them. (Editions Sud-ouest). 116 p. €8.50. Same author and same publisher for a more erudite book: 57 species described, still presence maps and a proposal of 32 botanical itineraries. To be preferred to the previous one given the low price. Random availability out of stock publisher. Wild orchids (Editions Debaisieux) 132 p. 14 €. EAN code 9782913381841. 70 species described and illustrated with one to three photos. Cartography. Format and weight compatible to take on a walk. Do not trust the stickers (In Aveyron, or Tarn etc..., it is always the same work). Random availability through local distributors (newsagents, supermarkets). Guide to orchids in France by F Dusak, P Lebas, P Pernot ( Editions Belin ) 224 p. Format 11x21. €16.95. Ean code 9782701146812. An almost exhaustive review of native orchids. The perfect guide to get started and take on a walk. Descriptions, flowering dates, identification tips and distribution maps or, failing that, indication of the regions of presence. Available. Reissued work with new cover Les ouvrages coup de coeur ! Guide to wild orchids of France . Life size. (Rémy Souche) Editions Les créations du Pélican/Vilo. 340 pages. Format 23x31. Paperback. Published in 2004. Publisher price €47. EAN code 9782719106426. This is probably not the best organized book for species identification (entries in the book are by the French vernacular name) but everything is there nevertheless and sometimes in large format: descriptions, quite numerous photos, presence by region thanks to maps. It can also be criticized for not respecting the nomenclature for certain species. Rémy Souche is sometimes more passionate than scientific, but as an erudite botanist, he gives us a superb work full of information, particularly on the history of ancient orchidology. Hard to find new but available second-hand. Up Les guides France régionaux Discovering the wild orchids of Rhône-Alpes . 2nd edition Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. Format 17x24. EAN code: 9782366622003 Biotope Editions A book that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, distribution maps and even discovery routes via a separate booklet. The only criticism that can be made concerns the iconography which is a little limited to 2 or 3 views per species. Available. Discovering Orchids in Languedoc and Catalan country. Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. 370 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782366622225 Biotope Editions A work that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, identification keys, distribution maps and even 22 discovery routes. The only criticism that one can make concerns the iconography a little limited to 2 or 3 views per species. Available. Discovering the Orchids of Alsace and Lorraine. Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. 380 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782366621716 Biotope Editions A book that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, identification keys, distribution maps and even 18 discovery routes. The number of species presented being less numerous than in the other regional guides at Biotope, a larger place is devoted to iconography. Available. Wild orchids of Ile de France. François Dusak and Pascal Pernot. Paperback. €30. 210 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782951037946 Biotope Editions The Ile de France is probably not the most prolific region in France in terms of orchid species, but one is surprised when reading the book to note that despite the galloping urbanization, pockets of nature shelter many unexpected species. The scientific part is pleasantly developed and the species are presented with a description, distribution map and 3 to 4 views per taxon. Not available in bookstores but available at the FFO boutique Up Guides to European orchids Discovery guide to European & Mediterranean Orchids (Kuhn R, Pedersen H & Cribb Ph) Editions Biotope . 430 pages. Paperback. EAN code: 9782366622461. 16x24 format and weight not very compatible (1100 g) for a field guide. Publication 1st half of 2020 in French version, original version 2019. NB: New edition in English 2024 by another publisher. Publisher price €39. Ean code 9782366622461 Superb work by a collective of authors. The edition presents 300 species with 2000 illustrations, which makes it the reference work currently for visual identifications. The respect of the nomenclature currently in force makes it a solid basis for naming correctly each species. Since all French species are represented, it can also be used for the national orchid flora. The introductory part and generalities on orchids (30 pages) will however be insufficient for a complete knowledge of this floral family. The cards distribution taking into account the scale treated remain summary but can prove useful. The ultra-optimized layout does not make it a pleasant work at first but its qualities are in the informative richness. Available Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Near East . (Delforge P) Editions Delachaux et Niestlé . 540 pages. 14.5x20 format and very limited weight (1100 g) for a field guide. Published in 2016, 4th revised and expanded edition. Publisher's price €39 Ean code 9782603024072 Long a reference work due to its exhaustiveness on species: more than 600! The author unfortunately adopts certain personal biases by multiplying their number precisely, which will not make the task easy for neophytes. Last downside since the iconographic base is only 2 to 3 views per species. The introductory part of less than 30 pages will only give bases for the knowledge of orchids but keys of determination inside the edition will usefully complete this first part. No distribution maps but only the indication of the country, which turns out to be clearly insufficient: the presence by country of a species will be of little use to help with the determination. Available. Up Orchids of Europe by country. Orchid of Italy. Guide to spontaneous orchids. Third edition. In Italian Collective of authors under the aegis of Giros (Gruppo italiano per la ricerca sulle Orchidee Spontanee) Publisher Ilcastelloeditore. €35. Paperback. Format 17x24. 480 pages. EAN code: 9788827604472 267 taxa presented after a reduced introduction compared to the previous edition. The book presents above all the species with a distribution map, the flowering periods, the description of use and according to the species, from 2 to 10 photos. Available locally or on Amazon.it Atlas of the Greek orchids. 2 volumes. in English Spyros Tsiftsis. Zissis Antonopoulos. Mediterraneo editions . €140. Hardcover. 1000 pages. 15x21 format. 2 complete works, superbly done on the orchids of Greece. The descriptions are basic but the iconography is rich. There are distribution maps as well as flowering periods. The price is high and it is still better to order it from the publisher but there are few works of this quality on the whole of the Greek islands. Available. Up Additional works to find out more. Orchids of Europe. Flowers and pollination. Accessible scientific work and wealth of knowledge on orchid pollination and floral parts. The genres are discussed without detailing each species, so it will not be a tool for identifying or having a complete overview of the species. The book is full of photos and sketches as well as statistical tables on pollinators in particular. Maybe not essential but fascinating nonetheless. 450 pages. Hardcover, 24x30 format. Biotope Editions . 65 € EAN code: 9782366621778 Available Atlas of orchids of France. An almost essential complement to the Guide to Orchids of France published by Biotope above, you will find this book from the same publisher, which maps out fairly precisely on a map of France the possible meeting places of our national orchids: description of the biotopes for each species and presence maps. 400 pages. Hardcover, 21x30 format. Editions Biotope . €40 (€20 from the publisher) EAN code: 9782914817622 Available. Italian Ophrys. Rémy Souche, Rolando Romolini and watercolors by Lorenzo Dotti. Self-published 2012. €65 + €15 postage. 580 pages. 23x23 format. Hardcover. Ean code 9782918075028. The book is bilingual French/Italian. A richly illustrated panorama with numerous views by species allows to grasp all the richness of Italian Ophrys. The introduction is as always with R Souche (and R Romolini) erudite with numerous historical entries. Some plates reproducing watercolors by Lorenzo Dotti give another point of view on orchids. Magnificent! Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Ophrys of France. (and Catalonia) Rémy Souche. Watercolors by Marianne Fabre. Self-published 2021. €65 + €15 postage. 600 pages. 23x23 format. Hardcover. Ean code 9782918075042. Another reference for the knowledge of orchids of the Mediterranean basin. The book begins with a broad and erudite historical introduction and presents the species of French Ophrys with numerous photographic illustrations. You will also find superb watercolors by the Aveyron artist Marianne Fabre. Well presented, complete, a reference work! Please note that a booklet of 74 reproductions of watercolors is also available. EAN code 9782918075059 at the price of €75 + €10 postage. 23x23 format. Printed on tintoretto support (250 gr structured paper to highlight the works). Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Ophrys hybrids from the western Mediterranean basin. Remy Souche Self-published 2008. 290 pages. Paperback. Format 17x23. Price €33.50 postage included. The book is the most complete and dedicated to Ophrys hybrids and contrary to what its name indicates goes beyond the Mediterranean rim without claiming to be exhaustive of course. 1 photo per hybrid but these being unique, impossible to embrace everything. The guide begins with a "wall" of images that allows for quick identification of the hybrids that are discussed further inside the book. Well done on the author's part, his other books use the same handy trick! Available on the FFO website. Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Up Works with an artistic vocation. Wild orchids of Europe. Bo Mossberg. Henrik Pedersen Artemis editions . €35. 2017 edition. 28x22 format. If you are nostalgic for old illustrations based on drawings and watercolors, you will surely like this book. Before photography, there were talented illustrators who knew how to synthesize all the richness of plants in a single watercolor while it sometimes takes several photos to describe orchids stem, leaves and flowers at the same time. Bo Mossberg, a contemporary illustrator, with his art, knows how to alternate general views and close-ups in order to help us discern the essence of each species (200 in total). This is not a field book because of its 22x28 format but consulting it quietly at home and finding your own discoveries through all these illustrations will make you spend wonderful moments. H Pedersen's descriptions are no less talented and instructive. Available. Wild orchids from our regions. Flammarion. Hardcover. EAN code: 9782081253353 Photographer and botanist, Laurent Bessol presents a hundred French orchids. Many close-ups will allow you to identify your own discoveries even if this is not the primary purpose of this book in the generous 25x32 format. The orchids are presented in order of flowering and the many photos are accompanied by short but informative texts. Hard to find new but available second-hand. Up

Ophrys apifera. Ophrys abeille. Bee orchid The Bee Ophrys. Ophr ys apifera : A discreet orchid but not rare in France. Its small size (between 10 and 30 cm) hides it in the sometimes tall grass but it also happens to find stems of more than 50 cm. It is one of the last Ophrys to flower (May to June). The design on the labellum can vary but the short and compact shape prevents confusion with other ophrys. The 3 sepals are generally more or less dark pink, and can also tend towards white. The dorsal sepal is often very far back. The two lateral petals are very atrophied and hairy: this is an important element for identification. The gibbosities are hairy. The species can self-fertilize which contributes to its "clonic" spread from a single individual. Eucera (bees) can also pollinate flowers and sometimes help create hybrids. We can find atypical individuals which according to their recurrence of form or coloration have a variety name (trollii, friburgensis...). This species is a treat for lovers of lusus or varieties. It is found in almost all French departments on calcareous soils and in full light, in semi-shaded orchards, rarely above 1000 m altitude. It invites itself into some private lawns as long as seeds arrive spontaneously and it is allowed to grow between April and June without mowing it inadvertently... Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys tenthredinifera. Ophrys guêpe. Sawfly orchid. A beautiful Ophrys! Very colorful with pretty shapes, it can be found in some southern departments in April. (Aude, Pyrénées orientales, Gers, Vaucluse and Corsica). It is not a common orchid in France and Italy or Spain host much larger populations. Its label, however, presents a very large variety of colors and shapes, so we will judge on the overall appearance of the flower to validate the species. The appendage (at the bottom and in the center of the labellum) is often very upturned and topped with quite visible developed hair. Click on the photos to enlarge

Platanthera bifolia. Platanthère à deux feuilles. Lesser butterfly orchid. Almost as widespread as Planthera chlorantha, this orchid can be found from sea level (but not from Brittany to Pas de Calais) up to 2000 meters. It grows in open meadows and in shaded areas from the end of April to July for high altitude locations. In metropolitan France, we also find Platanthera chlorantha. Differentiating the two is not easy from a morphological point of view: from 20 to 60 cm, the same shades and similar leaves. It will therefore be necessary to approach it closely and observe the inside of the flower. The anthers are distant and trapezoidal in shape for chlorantha and tight and parallel for bifolia. The first views of these two species will therefore illustrate this point. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neotinea tridentata. Orchis tridenté. Dense flowered orchid. Medium-sized plant (20 to 40 cm) with a ball-shaped inflorescence. Grows in limestone soil in full light to semi-shade. Very similar to other Neotinea (lactea, conica), it differs from them by its more accentuated "points" on the helmet composed of the reunification of the petals and sepals. The coloring can vary between slightly pinkish white and purple. Click on the photos to enlarge

Coeloglossum viride. (Dactylorhiza viridis) Orchis grenouille. Frog orchid. A rather unobtrusive orchid: its generally green colour, sometimes tinged with red, and its small size (often around ten centimetres) make it invisible in the meadows it loves. It is said to have disappeared from many regions and even though a real decline in populations has been observed, it is sometimes still present but not listed, hidden in the green grass. Genetically close to Dactylorhiza, the genus to which it is sometimes attached, it is nevertheless distinguished morphologically: not very colorful, smaller, with a much shorter nectariferous spur and a bifid labellum that is longer than it is wide. Click on the photos to enlarge ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us.

Ophrys lupercalis. Ophrys des lupercales. Dark bee orchid. Ophrys from the south and south west of France, this Ophrys poses little problem of identification. It is part of Pseudophrys like Ophrys lutea. The labellum is relatively elongated, furrowed more or less deeply in its central part, devoid of humps. What is not visible lies in its pollination by specific insects (Hymenoptera generally) which position themselves with their abdomen turned towards the reproductive organs, which is the opposite of other Ophrys. Despite this peculiarity, hybrids are possible with Ophrys. The determination of the species could turn out to be complex because the authors do not agree sometimes regrouping certain taxa sometimes multiplying the species. You will therefore sometimes find a single species Ophrys fusca (Ophrys brown) with synonym Ophrys sulcata, or the 2 very distinct species. I have therefore attempted here to present views respecting the most striking distinctive elements of determination. Click on the photos to enlarge

Gymnadenia conopsea odoratissima. Orchis moucheron. Fragrant orchid. Gymnadenias have a reputation for giving off a faint vanilla scent and this species is no exception, although sometimes the flowers can be odorless. Gymnadenia odoratissima will be very difficult to differentiate apart from a more pronounced odor and a smaller size. In the field therefore, unless you have 2 populations to observe in parallel, naming one and the other requires measuring the flowers. The other morphological differences are quite subtle and relate to the size of the flowers, the shape of the labellum in particular. The distribution area being included in that of Gymnadenia conopsea , this complicates the task even more. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys passionis. Ophrys de la passion. An orchid of the aranifera section. It is therefore quite close to the much more common spider orchid. The petals are in principle quite wide and purple in color (entirely or at the margin). The basal field is very dark and more so than the labellum, which gives a second criterion since in O. aranifera, this field is lighter or concolorous. O. passionis flowers at the same time as O. aranifera, which leads to hybrids. It is present in far fewer departments in the south and west of France. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys scolopax. Ophrys bécasse. Woodcock orchid. The Ophrys bécasse is an orchid quite widespread in the south of France. Very colorful, of medium size and fond of calcareous soils, it can be recognized by its elongated and trilobed labellum (well detached humps on the sides). The petals of the same color as the sepals are thin. An appendage often folded into a tip of the labellum will complete the description. Note, however, very variable designs on the labellum, which will explain the numerous illustrative views for this species. There are strong variations in the ratio between the length of the labellum and the span of the sepals, giving either the effect of a compact flower or, conversely, the impression of a very small labellum lost in the middle of large sepals. In the same group, we will find in the literature Ophrys picta and Ophrys corbariensis which will be almost impossible to differentiate from Ophrys scolopax . The discriminating elements using size or flowering date are not of much help when we know the great variability of Ophrys. Should we have made them different species? The official nomenclature currently grants them the rank of subspecies or simple synonym. Click on the photos to enlarge