Going native over wild orchids

While many folk obsess over exotic orchids, it’s time to wave the flag for the extraordinary variety of wild orchids in Britain and Europe. 
 

Sue Parker is a true orchidmaniac and has compiled a delightful ‘everything you need to know about wild orchids but were afraid to ask’ article.

Pop over to First Nature and read The Nature and Biology of Orchids - Sue Parker. It's a fascinating compilation of answers to questions compiled over time. The style is enthusiastic, well-written and easy to understand.

For instance, Sue tackles such issues as what causes hybrids, and what is a ‘hybrid swarm’, along with what causes freaks and monstrous forms to occur.

A little gem.

By Pamela Kelt

Caption: The attractive Serapias lingua, or Tongue Orchid, grows throughout much of Europe in both Atlantic and Mediterranean countries. Did you know the plants can grow up to 50cm in height? At first, the various types of tongue orchids, often found growing alongside each other, can be difficult to tell apart, writes Sue, but Serapias lingua is characterised by a dark red spot in the ‘throat’ of the flower. 

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