Résultats de recherche

Ophrys araneola. Ophrys petite araignée. Early spider orchid. It is not always recognized that Ophrys araneola is a species in its own right. It may therefore be a subspecies of Ophrys aranifera (or Ophrys sphegodes ) according to some authors or a simple variety. A synonym refers to Ophrys litigiosa . Open a guide and try to identify it on 1 view and it's a guaranteed nightmare. Go to the Internet and Google and you'll find so many views that you won't know what you're dealing with either! We must therefore accept the fact that within the Ophrys there is an Aranifera/sphegodes section and affiliated species. The differences will be morphological (smaller flowers, sepals larger or smaller than the labellum, colours of the petals and sepals, etc.), calendar-related (early or late flowering) and regional. Prepare yourself well because the variations are such and the hybridizations so numerous that a doubt will often remain. Only a few rare individuals relate to the type and the others will have to remain prudently within the section. Araneola is therefore reputed to be earlier in flowering date than Aranifera (in regions where both can be found) and the two often coexist and it is then just a question of distribution, more araneola at the beginning of the season and more aranifera at the end of the season. The flowers are a little smaller: generally the labellum seems tiny surrounded by long petals and sepals (petals greener and darker than the sepals). It is often rounder and edged with yellow (aranifera is elongated and also edged with yellow but this part being folded most of the time, it is not obvious). The labellum is, according to some authors, slightly rounded, others do not report anything. The basal field is, like Ophrys aranifera, concolorous with the labellum. Still among the oddities, there is a subspecies (or species) Ophrys viriscens which is considered according to the authors (see guides) to be more slender than Ophrys araneola or on the contrary more robust!?? Who to believe? From my own observations in Aveyron, I can conclude, with great humility, that apart from very marked individuals with small flowers, small labellum often round and sepals generally tending towards white or pinkish white, many other Ophrys encountered in the field are difficult to classify because they are probably hybridized. Click on the photos to enlarge

Spiranthes spiralis. Spiranthe d'automne. Autumn lady's tresses. It's all in the name! The orchid blooms in autumn (late August to be exact...) and its inflorescence describes a spiral. It is both rare, except in certain departments in the south of France, and not very visible. Orchid enthusiasts are less active in prospecting at the end of August, and it passes outside the usual observation periods. Sometimes, moreover, it flowers without warning: no announcing leaves, the stem emerges, the orchid flowers then disappears in about twenty days no more (experience). Discovering it is sometimes a matter of chance or thanks to a transmission between initiates. Given its particular needs in terms of biotope, it will sometimes find shelter in an urban area (untrampled but regularly mowed lawn, maintained cemetery edges, etc.) In principle, the leaves are visible (but they must be noticed) before flowering. The genus Spiranthes is widespread throughout the world and in both hemispheres, which is unusual among orchids (apart from inter-tropical species, of course). Spiranthes spiralis and its "cousin" Spiranthes aestivalis are European and are found in France rather in the south but its presence is proven in many departments although rare. Spiranthes aestivalis likes more humid soils than Spiranthes spiralis which prefers fresh or dry calcareous soils. Morphologically, differentiating them will be extremely complicated moreover. A shift in the flowering date will add even more confusion: from there to suppose that there is only one species with early flowering localities... Of variable size (between 5 and 30 cm), it will be found on grounds with short grass and thus will be visible despite its small size to an attentive observer. Click on the photos to enlarge ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us.

Dactylorhiza sambucina. Orchis sureau. Elder flowered orchid. Some Dactylorhiza will be difficult to identify because each species varies and hybrids are common. In some regions, these hybrids are more numerous than the type species. Observing Dactylorhiza is proof that once again, some specialists tend to segment and name what are sometimes only varieties. Evolution is certainly underway, but it will not happen on the scale of current humanity. Patience! I will therefore only present a few species, those whose identification remains certain. Dactylorhiza sambucina is a stocky plant that can be found on damp but not soggy substrates, neutral to slightly acidic. It can also be found at altitude, between 500 and 1500 meters. While usually, we tend to name each variation, for this species which has the particularity of having yellowish or reddish flowers, the consensus which consists of keeping a single name prevails although we can observe subtle morphological differences between the two varieties. Sometimes one color largely prevails in a station of Elderberry Orchid but in principle we will almost systematically find the two together in proportions that can vary. This cohabitation allows for rapid identification. Possible confusion with Orchis provincialis for the yellow variety. But O provincialis is more slender with more spaced flowers. The presence of bracts (floral parts resembling leaves and scattered in the inflorescence of the Elderberry Orchid is also an element of differentiation. These bracts are green when the flower is yellow and purple when it is red. Possible confusion with Orchis mascula for the red variety and it is also the bracts that will allow them to be identified because they are not very visible in O mascula . The latter often has spotted leaves starting from the base and D sambucina has leaves without spots and some of which are on the stem. The inflorescence is more compact, compact in D Sambucina and more slender in O mascula . The pigmentation in the center of the labellum is very variable, present or not and does not constitute a reliable criterion. The labellum is sometimes folded and sometimes spread out and quite wide, it is therefore not a very convincing element. Click on the photos to enlarge

French Society of Orchidophilia. French Federation of Orchid Lovers. Founded in 1969 and with 1,500 members and many more in regional associations, the SFO is the benchmark for French associations on the subject. Dealing with the cultivation of tropical orchids but also present for the preservation of French orchids, the association publishes Orchidophile, a quarterly newsletter. Its format has recently expanded to highlight a generous iconography . The subscription is not conditional on membership of the SFO and allows consultation of the archives (a hundred issues already online out of 200). Having completed the digitization of these archives for the association, I think I can say that it is a mine of knowledge on the subject which has little equivalent elsewhere. The French federation of orchid lovers recently joined the SFO in order to unite their resources on common projects. https://sfo-asso.fr/ https://sfo-asso.fr/publications/lorchidophile/ https://ffao-asso.jimdofree.com/ Wild orchid One of the missions of the FFO is to enable orchid populations to be monitored both geographically and temporally. For many years now, Wild Orchis, through a collaboration of volunteers, both in running the site and in collecting data, has enabled this dynamic monitoring. https://www.orchisauvage.fr/index.php

Ophrys speculum. Ophrys miroir. Mirror orchid Also called Ophrys ciliata . eyebrow. A rare species in continental France, it is found in Corsica and on Mediterranean islands. Its almost permanent absence in France would be due to the lack of pollinating insects, so the populations observed are rarely perennial: it appears here and there, disappears and then reappears. But how does it manage to flower? As it is found in the Mediterranean departments, and sporadically on the Atlantic coast, the fertile seeds would arrive carried by the southerly winds, which would allow the emergence of small populations but not their development from flowering plants in France. Easily recognizable with its shiny labellum, sometimes blue, initially surrounded by yellow and then fringed with abundant hair, it looks like it is made of glazed or enameled ceramic. It grows in open wasteland, scrubland and in calcareous soil. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys aymoninii. Ophrys d'Aymonin. Fly orchid. Long considered an atypical form of Ophrys insectifera (fly orchid), this pretty little orchid was given species status in 1981 and its name (which is quite rare for European orchids) is dedicated to a botanist: G. Aymonin. The general shape of the plant or the floral elements are therefore almost identical but the yellow margin around the lower part of the labellum distinguishes it from O. insectifera . We also find a white or metallic blue band in the middle of the labellum and petals like small antennae but green/yellow in color, sometimes slightly tinged with brown. Hybrids are possible with O sphegodes or O araneola . The orchid is present in a handful of departments in the south of France only: Aveyron, Lozère, Herault and Gard. It will be found quite easily in the Causses of Aveyron. Click on the photos to enlarge

Anacamptis laxiflora. Orchis à fleurs lâches. Loose-flowered orchid. Où la rencontrer ? Cliquer sur la carte et aller sur Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées The flower stalk is not very dense, hence its name, but this is a characteristic shared by other Anacamptis. The flowers range from light to dark pink. The plant is medium to tall and grows in humid environments (at least part of the year - in 2022, a very dry year, the Hérault station that I frequent did not experience any flowering). The density of the plants is very variable and sometimes the concentrations are significant. They grow in full sun or in slightly shaded environments. Its presence is attested over a large part of the territory but the populations can be low. Click on the photos to enlarge