The common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsili) has grown all over the grassland on Cowbar again and this year there are plenty growing on the grassy cliff slopes too. This is one of Europe’s commonest orchids. Recently, some of the flower heads have been noticeably much paler – almost white. We wondered if they were a different species – maybe a heath orchid (Dactylorhiza maculate) – but they’re not. Apparently white or pale pink variants of the common spotted orchid are quite common. According to the very helpful folks on Plantlife’s ‘Flowers on Roadside Verges’ group, the three-lobed lower lip of each blossom will help identify species. In the common spotted orchid the three lobes are very distinct, with the middle one slightly longer sometimes. The heath orchid blossom is wide and frilly with a much smaller middle lobe.
BELOW: All common spotted orchids
The bee orchid (Ophrys apifera ) is definitely a new spot though! A neighbour identified one alongside the Cleveland way path and then over the next few weeks we found two more solitary bee orchid plants in different parts of the grassland. Since they usually only flower once after six or seven years of growing, it is exciting to see them.
The other two new orchids are the marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) – just one little specimen that we can see, which came out in May near the new bund – and pyramidal orchids (Anancamptis pyramidalis) which started appearing in June.
BELOW: Bee orchid Pyramid orchid Marsh orchid
The bee orchid has been the ‘poster orchid’ so far. Its fame has spread and a couple of visitors have asked where they could see it. Fingers crossed for even more variety next year. All orchids are protected by Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). You can read more about each of the Cowbar orchids in our Species section.