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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. Orchidées d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du moyen-orient. (Carel Kreutz) En anglais 1200 pages. Format 18x25. Poids 3 kg. Parution 2024 . Auto-édition. Px éditeur 50 € Code ean 9789083141121 Cet ouvrage recense pas moins de 950 espèces et 125 variétés ! Belle mise en page avec une présentation claire et aérée et une iconographie de qualité comme pour les autres ouvrages de Kreutz. On trouvera les informations descriptives, de présence géographique, de période de floraison ou d'altitude. Les taxons apparaissent au rang d'espèce uniquement, les sous-espèces sont élevées au rang supérieur. En marge est précisé le rattachement de l'espèce à son groupes (ex O forestieri dans le groupe Fuscae) Au chapitre des points négatifs, il faudra noter le manque de carte de présence (mais les informations sont fournies) et l'index de fin d'ouvrage très sommaire : uniquement basé sur les noms scientifiques, le tri se fait en fonction d'une nouvelle nomenclature avec des genres qui ne font pas toujours l'unanimité au sein de la communauté orchidophile (Odontorchis, herorchis, vermeulenia...). Il faut donc savoir préalablement à quel genre appartient l'espèce pour y accéder dans l'index des 1080 taxons. Disponible à la boutique des éditions Biotope ou sur Amazon. 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

5I8A5247 Décrivez votre image. Non-commercial site: you will never be asked for your personal details or to make any payment on this site. Photos of wild orchids Discover Orchids from France and Europe by Pascal Decologne. Orchidee-photo.com France : Aveyron, Aude, Lozère, Côte d'Or, Jura, Savoie, Essonne, Seine & Marne, Yvelines. Sardinia (Italy) Gargano (Italy) Quick Access: Basics of Orchids Get free high definition files on demand: Order form . Orchids of France These orchids are present in France and of course for the vast majority in other European countries. There are no species of orchids endemic to France, but there are sometimes regional varieties that can be elevated to the rank of subspecies ( Ophrys aymoninii for example). Clic on pictures below to see more. Cypripedium calceolus. S abot de Venus. Lady's slipper. Updated 09/2023 . Spiranthes spiralis. Spiranthe d'automne. Autum n lady's tresses. Updated 09/2023 . Anacamptis longicornu. Orchis à long éperon. Long spurred orchid. Updated 09/2023. Anacamptis pyramidalis. Orchis pyramidal. Pyramidal orchid. Updated 09/2023. Orchis simia. Orchis singe. Mon key orchid. Updated 09/2023. Orchis anthropophora. Orchis homme pendu. Ma n orchid. Updated 09/2023. Traunsteinera globosa. Orchis globuleux. Globe orchid. Updated 09/2023. Gymnadenia rhellicani. Orchis vanille. Updated 09/2023 Platanthera bifolia. Platanthère à deux feuilles. Lesser butterfly orchid. Updated 09/2023. Neottia ovata. Listère ovale. Common twayblade. Updated 10/2023. Epipactis helleborine. Epipactis à larges feuilles . Broad leaved helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Epipactis microphylla. Epipactis à petites feuilles. Small leaved helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Neotinea lactea. Orchis lacté . Milky orchid . Updated 10/2023. Neotinea ustulata. Orchis brûlé. Burnt orchid. Updated 10/2023. Dactylorhiza maculata. Orchis maculé/tacheté. Heath spotted orchid. Updated 10/2023. Dactylorhiza sambucina. Orchis sureau. Elder flowered orchid. Updated 10/2023. Cephalanthera damasonium. Cephalanthère blanche. Large white helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Ophrys scolopax. Ophrys bécasse. Woodcock orchid. Updated 12/2023 Ophrys sphegodes/aranifera. Ophrys araignée. Early spider orchid . Updated 01/2024. Ophrys massiliensis. Ophrys de Marseille. Early spider orchid . Updated 12/2023 Ophrys lutea. Ophrys jaune. Yellow bee orchid. Updated 01/2024. Pseudophrys non déterminés Ophrys speculum. Ophrys miroir. Mirror orchid. Updated 12/2023 Serapias lingua. Serapias en langue. Tongue orchid. Updated 09/2023. Goodyera repens. Goody ère rampante. Creeping lady's tresses. Updated 09/2023. Anacamptis laxiflora. Orc his à fleurs lâches. Loose-flowered orchid. Updated 12/2024. Orchis purpurea. Orchis pourpre. Purple orchid. Updated 09/2023. Orchis mascula. Orchis mâle. Ma le orchid. Updated 09/2023. Himantoglossum hircinum. Orc his bouc. Lizard orchid. Updated 09/2023. Gymnadenia conopsea. Orchis moucheron. Fragrant orchid. Updated 09/2023 Gymnadenia corneliana. Nigritelle rose/de Cornelia. Updated 09/2023 Pseudorchis albida. Orchis miel. Small white orchid. Updated 10/2023. Neottia nidus-avis. Neottie nid d'oiseau. Bird's nest orchid. Updated 10/2023 Epipactis muelleri. Epipactis de Müller. Mueller's helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Epipactis palustris. Epipactis des marais. Marsh helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Neotinea tridentata. Orchis tridenté . . Updated 10/2023. Limodorum abortivum. Limodore à feuilles avortées. Violet limodore. Updated 10/2023. Dactylorhiza elata. Orchis élevé. Robust marsh orchid. Updated 10/2023. Cephalanthera rubra. Cephalanthère rouge. Red helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Ophrys apifera. Ophrys abeille. Bee orchid. Updated 12/2023. Ophrys tenthredinifera. Ophrys guêpe. Sawfly orchid . Updated 02/2024. Ophrys incubacea. Ophrys noir. . Updated 01/2024. Ophrys araneola. Ophrys petite araignée. Early spider orchid. Updated 08/2024. Ophrys lupercalis. Ophrys des lupercales. Dark bee orchid. Ophrys insectifera. Ophrys mouche. Fly orchid. Updated 12/2023. Ophrys bombyliflora. Ophrys bombyx. Bumble bee orchid. Updated 12/2023 Serapias parviflora. S erapias à pe tites fleurs. Small flower tongue orchid. Updated 09/2023. Anacamptis morio. Orch is bouffon. Green winged orchid. Updated 09/2023. Anacamptis papilionacea. Orc his papillon. Pink butterfly orchid. Updated 09/2023. Orchis militaris. Orchis militaire. Militar y orchid. Updated 09/2023. Orchis provincialis. Orchis de Provence. Pro vence orchid. Updated 09/2023. Himantoglossum robertianum. Barlie d e Robert. Giant orchid. Updated 09/2023 . Gymnadenia odoratissima. Orchis très odorant. Short spurred fragrant orchid. Updated 09/2023 Platanthera chlorantha. Platanthère verte. Greater butterfly orchid. Updated 09/2023. Coeloglossum viride. (D viridis) Orchis grenouille. Frog orchid. Updated 08/2024. Epipactis atrorubens. Epipactis pourpre. Dark red helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Epipactis distans. Epipactis à feuilles distantes. . Updated 10/2023. Epipactis purpurata. Epipactis pourpre . Violet helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Neotinea maculata. Orchis intact. Dense flowered orchid. Updated 10/2023. Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Orchis de Fuchs. Common spotted orchid. Updated 10/2023. Dactylorhiza incarnata. Orchis incarnat. Early marsh orchid. Updated 10/2023. Cephalanthera longifolia. Cephalanthère à longues feuilles. Sword leaved helleborine. Updated 10/2023. Ophrys fuciflora. Ophrys frelon. Late spider orchid. Updated 12/2023 Ophrys aveyronensis. Ophrys de l'Aveyron. Updated 02/2024. Ophrys passionis/caloptera. Ophrys de la passion. Ophrys arachnitiformis. Ophrys en forme d'araignée. False spider orchid. Updated 08/2024. Ophrys fusca. Ophrys brun. Dark bee orchid. Updated 03/2024. Ophrys aymoninii. Ophrys d'Aymonin. Fly orchid. Updated 12/2023. Orchids of Sardinia Presentation of some endemic species of Sardinia (or mainly present on the island and rarely elsewhere). Click on pictures to access the gallery Ophrys annae. Ophrys d'Anne. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. annae . Updated 09/2024 Ophrys exaltata morisii. Ophrys de Moris. Ophrys x arachnitiformis . Updated 09/2024 Ophrys chestermanii. Ophrys de Chesterman. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. chestermanii . Updated 09/2024 Ophrys fusca iricolor subsp. eleonorae. Ophrys d'Eleonore . Updated 09/2024 Ophrys normanii. Ophrys de Norman. Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp. normanii . Updated 09/2024 Orchis ichnusae. Ophrys de Sardaigne. Ophrys mascula subsp. ichnusae . Updated 09/2024 Orchids from Monte Gargano (Pouilles, It) Presentation of some typical species of Monte Gargano. (and not common with the French species presented above). Located in southern Italy, in the Puglia region, at the height of Naples, Monte Gargano is a small massif with mainly limestone soil that juts out into the Adriatic Sea. The lower part to the west attached to the Italian boot is a cultivated plain and the massif to the east is a land of olive trees and semi-dense forest. Its highest point is at 1050 meters (Monte Calvo - Bald Mountain), which installs a relative layering of vegetation from sea level to the summit plateaus and thus allows to observe a great diversity of orchids. The deciduous forest shelters only a few orchids, it will therefore be necessary to look for them on the edges or on the limestone plateaus often particularly bare. The little plant substrate on certain karst limestone slabs does not prevent the development of species of which some abound ( Anacamptis morio and papilionacea in particular). Over a full year, between 70 and 80 species and subspecies of orchids can be observed. Click on the photos to access the orchid species galleries. Orchis quadripunctata. Orchis à 4 points. Four spotted orchid. Updated 09/2024 Dactylorhiza romana. Orchis de Rome. Roman orchid. Updated 09/2024 Ophrys apulica. Ophrys des Pouilles. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. apulica. Updated 09/2024 Orchis italica. Orchis d'Italie. Naked man orchid. Updated 09/2024 Ophrys bertolonii-bertoloniiformis. Ophrys de Bertoloni. Bertoloni's bee orchid. Updated 09/2024 Ophrys parvimaculata. Ophrys à petite macule. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. parvimaculata. Updated 09/2024 Orchis pauciflora. Orchis pauciflore. Sparse flowered orchid. Updated 09/2024 Ophrys biscutella. Ophrys à 2 losanges. . Updated 09/2024 Ophrys parvimaculata. Ophrys à petite macule. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. parvimaculata. Updated 09/2024 Ophrys apulica. Ophrys des Pouilles. Ophrys fuciflora subsp. apulica. Updated 09/2024 Free orchid illustration photos : The photographs presented are not downloadable but as they are not for sale either, I can provide files on request and free of charge. Tell me the desired views, the required definition and the use you wish to make of them beforehand. Indicate the desired reference in the contact form. Ex: OP/AP 01 (Ophrys apifera 01) which appears in the photo caption.

Ophrys insectifera. Ophrys mouche. Fly orchid Ophrys of Western Europe mainly, the Ophrys insectifera although quite widespread in France will escape quick glances. The flowers are few in number, small and elongated on stems of 15 to 60 cm. Little colored apart from a more or less bright gray band on the labellum. This orchid flowers between mid-April and the end of June up to 1500 meters. As with almost all Ophrys, the shape of the labellum will present varied forms: more or less wide or cut. If we clearly distinguish the 3 green sepals at the back, the two lateral sepals are reduced to the state of thin "antennas" more or less short of the same color as the labellum. A subspecies endemic to Aveyron (Ophrys aymoninii) has a yellow margin. Click on the photos to enlarge

BIOGRAPHY Presentation Amateur photographer since adolescence and passionate about natural sciences even if I did not make it my job, I discovered wild orchids about ten years ago by chance. I am lucky to live in the south of Essonne and not far from the forest of Fontainebleau. Between Etampes and Fontainebleau, the wastelands and limestone lawns, which are very frequent, are home to many orchids: Orchis, Ophrys, Epipactis...but you quickly feel cramped and the passion sometimes becomes an endless quest for new species, 'Hybrids, from Lusus. So I quickly extended my surveys to my native region: the Côte d'Or and the neighboring Jura. Then the Alps and La Vanoise to take advantage of the staggered flowering of certain species at altitude. At the beginning of spring, Aude and Aveyron... How and... why stop? Not being monomaniacal for all that, I also photograph other flowers, the insects that visit them. Good visit to all and do not hesitate to comment! Contact me Email: pascal.decologne@laposte.net Send Thank you for what you sent !

Undetermined pseudophrys . The pseudophrys are sometimes difficult to determine on the one hand because the authors do not agree and as already indicated, the iconographic base supposed to illustrate their guides is limited and varies enormously from one guide to another. The descriptive part is also confusing because the criteria are broad and overlap from one species to another. In their defense, hybrids are common. Should we only see in this case Ophrys fusca and countless varieties or subspecies as long as we agree on stable characters. An observation of a few days in the Aude left me perplexed, here is an anthology of the specimens encountered. In mainland France, you will find on the Parthénope guide of the orchids of France (Bournérias and Prat) O. vasconica, O. lupercalis, O. bilunulata, O. forêti, O. sulcata. Ophrys fusca being considered as an Iberian species. The guide to European orchids from the same publisher (Kühn, Pedersen, Cribb), on the other hand, only recognizes Ophyrs fusca as a species and O. vasconica as a hybrid. Delforge in his guide to orchids in France (ed Delachaux) names O. delforgei, O. bilunulata, O. fusca, O. lupercalis, O. arnoldii, O. forêti, O. sulcata, O. vasconica._cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Delforge on the one hand and Bournérias and Prat therefore agree on almost all the species and their distribution. Click on the photos to enlarge

Serapias parviflora. Serapias à petites fleurs. Small flowers tongue orchid. In the Serapias family, it is the smallest. Not by the size of the stem but by the smallness of the flowers. The floral stem therefore remains very slender. Mainly Mediterranean, but also from the Atlantic coast to Brittany. Size from 10 to 30 cm. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys massiliensis. Ophrys de Marseille. Early spider orchid. Almost nothing will differentiate it from the Ophrys aranifera/sphegodes (Spider Orchid) from a morphological point of view. Its labellum a little smaller perhaps? Carrying a caliper or being able to compare the 2 species in the same place is not the most convenient, even impossible since its singularity lies in its precocity because it flowers in the south of France from January most often but sometimes from the end of December. It is therefore officially only a subspecies or early regional variety, very similar to the Ophrys sphegodes (Spider Orchid). Click on the photos to enlarge

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

Pseudorchis albida. Orchis miel. Small white orchid. An orchid that likes altitude and cool climates: It can be found from 500 m in the Alps, the Pyrenees and sometimes the Massif Central, Jura and Vosges. Elsewhere, it can be found in Northern Europe or Russia. Unique in its kind. A medium-sized plant (between 10 and 30 cm), it grows in meadows or on the edge of high-altitude lakes. Quite easy to identify and generally visible among the vegetation, it develops a variable inflorescence of around 10 to 50 flowers, white to very pale yellow in color. 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

Ophrys arachnitiformis. Ophrys en forme d'araignée. False spider orchid. Ophrys arachnitiformis is one of the species that is not always easy to identify, especially since the authors of guides (as well as many pseudo-specialists) do not always have the same definition, consider that the geographical distribution differs, or do not present similar illustrations. It must be considered as a subspecies of Ophrys sphegodes from the Mediterranean rim with a rather early flowering. The sepals and petals are white to pink with a medium-sized labellum. As sometimes, everything is a matter of conviction but not always of convincing scientific elements, we must therefore remain cautious and for my part, I deliver this description and these views with all reserve in the hope of a finally settled debate and a precise diagnosis for the future. Click on the photos to enlarge

Orchis militaris. Orchis militaire. Military orchid. The military orchid is part of the genus Orchis, largely amputated from many species now classified in the genera Anacamptis or Dactylorhiza. In each genus, one species is the lectotype (in synthesis, the most representative species) and the Orchis militaire represents the genus Orchis. Orchis are tuberous orchids, usually having two which gave them their Greek name Orchis which means testicle. One of the tubers allows the growth of the plant while the second forms during this same period and will replace the original tuber gradually withered 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 sepals and lateral petals are united to form a "helmet" while the central petal (labellum) offers a fairly complex shape that varies from one species to another. Three Orchis are quite close morphologically and "coloristically": Orchis militaris (Military Orchis), Orchis purpurea (Purple Orchis) and Orchis simia (Monkey Orchis). Hybridizations are therefore possible that will not allow a certain identification. The military orchid is rather pink with a narrow labellum in its central part itself provided with small tufts of hair. Present in many departments (except Brittany and Massif Central due to unsuitable soil), it flowers between the end of April and the end of June depending on the region and altitude. Click on the photos to enlarge