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Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Orchids in the Claise Valley

Here is a selection of orchids that are flowering now in the Claise Valley. These photos were all taken at Chaumussay or Boussay on Saturday 7 May.

Narrow-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Narrow-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia (Fr. Céphalanthère à feuilles étroites), earlier flowering than the very similar White Helleborine C. damasonium.

Hybrid Man x Monkey Orchid Orchis x bergonii, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
The rather uncommon Hybrid Man x Monkey Orchid Orchis x bergonii.

Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora (Fr. Homme-pendu), growing in the ditch very close to the hybrid.

Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes (Fr. Ophrys araignée), flowering later than usual this year.

Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera (Fr. Ophrys mouche), looking, as ever, like Churchill in his velour onesie.

Military Orchid Orchis militaris, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Military Orchid Orchis militaris (Fr. Orchis guerrier), one of our rarest orchids, although it is a bit more abundant in other areas of France.

Hybrid Lady x Military Orchid Orchis purpurea x militaris, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
I think this is probably a hybrid Lady x Military Orchid Orchis purpurea x militaris.

Monkey Orchids Orchis simia, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
A horde of Monkey Orchids Orchis simia (Fr. Orchis singe).

Greater Butterfly Orchid Platanthera chlorantha, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Greater Butterfly Orchid Platanthera chlorantha (Fr. platanthère à fleurs verdâtres).

Monkey x Lady Orchid hybrid Orchis x angusticruris, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Monkey x Lady Orchid hybrid Orchis x angusticruris.

Hypochromatic Monkey Orchid Orchis simia, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Hypochromatic (lacking pigment) Monkey Orchid Orchis simia (Fr. Orchis singe).

4 comments:

chm said...

Superb photos (phone ?) of beautiful orchids; the last one is stunning!

Susan said...

chm: No these were mostly taken with the camera. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

chm said...

Susan, I enjoy all your posts, whether flowers or otherwise!

chm said...


The Ophrys Insectifera is almost black. That is an unusual colour that I have seen only in Irises.

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