tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38024661097474464262024-02-19T09:17:08.130+00:00OrchidmaniaA blog for orchid fans by Pam KeltPam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-85164184442159114532018-05-09T11:26:00.001+01:002021-09-13T11:43:32.652+01:00Grandeur of a miniature world<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLy98fhhSqGUYYVED9jmOlj3tBYetZArzwljgqkNjr4ezELZHHNLe3VZ0tIx_NWzdzbKKgFbXuGYi84L8IIQXVejbnSIl0pvyVgAXRBa02wJ17lV5SIIHik4dg52gAohy2plhEMeq54/s1600/Haeckel_Hepaticae.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLy98fhhSqGUYYVED9jmOlj3tBYetZArzwljgqkNjr4ezELZHHNLe3VZ0tIx_NWzdzbKKgFbXuGYi84L8IIQXVejbnSIl0pvyVgAXRBa02wJ17lV5SIIHik4dg52gAohy2plhEMeq54/s400/Haeckel_Hepaticae.jpg" width="285" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">The Public Domain Review
newsletter is a gem. Take the latest essay: <a href="http://publicdomainreview.org/2015/10/14/richard-spruce-and-the-trials-of-victorian-bryology/" target="_blank">Richard Spruce and the Trials of Victorian Bryology</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">It’s a fascinating tale of
Amazonian botanical espionage and the secret sexuality of mosses as indulged in
by obsessive Victorians. Apparently, it was associated with illicit passion,
enabling romps outside the strictures of a residence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;">Who said moss was boring?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>Spruce was not one for the regular beauties of the jungle. </span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt;">“</span>The beauty of the Amazon, to Spruce, lay in the humble, Godly mosses and hepatics that hearkened back to his botanical ramblings back in Europe, providing respite from the rainforest’s apparently underwhelming — albeit dangerous — daily existence.</span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;">Pictured is Plate 72 of the fabulous </span>Kunstformen der Natur (1904),
depicting a grove of mosses (referred to by Haeckel as “Muscinae”, a label now
obsolete).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">The newsletter is free and a welcome fortnightly visitor in my inbox.</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-14386395332809312982017-05-19T16:07:00.000+01:002018-05-17T20:07:12.066+01:00Tracking down a royal orchid bouquet<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6woHnSA-kBKaChZ0XiacZXz22js9fTL7ECJ0Rx8vJ3Ce_JaGos2imvtOKRwJ7jUaZtejwGF0Eeq6HB7cnLK52garNtkqsuuN9vJWJ0xQR5KiMFpTSu-td7LBAxhZObHp1Kla5ZZuHWJM/s1600/Queen_Victoria_Golden_Jubilee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6woHnSA-kBKaChZ0XiacZXz22js9fTL7ECJ0Rx8vJ3Ce_JaGos2imvtOKRwJ7jUaZtejwGF0Eeq6HB7cnLK52garNtkqsuuN9vJWJ0xQR5KiMFpTSu-td7LBAxhZObHp1Kla5ZZuHWJM/s1600/Queen_Victoria_Golden_Jubilee.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colourised photo of <span style="color: #0f0436;">Queen Victoria.<br /> It is full of qurky errors: see below</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">As wedding fans ponder the design of Ms Markle's dress, will they also be thinking about the bouquet? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">In the Victorian age, orchids represented power, wealth, glamour, exoticism ... And Queen Victoria knew what she was about.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span><span style="color: #0f0436;">In a history of the Veitch seed merchants, botanical writer Sue Shepard
waxes lyrical about the most magnificent bouquet people had ever seen, made of literally hundreds of orchids.
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">She notes that it was in honour of Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee and was composed of every variety of orchid ‘produced with Her
Majesty's dominions’. Sadly, Ms Shepard did not reference this, but after some digging
around, I found a fascinating article in the <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1302&dat=18970814&id=A_lPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6827,1547528" target="_blank">Sydney Mai</a><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1302&dat=18970814&id=A_lPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6827,1547528" target="_blank">l</a> of August 14, 1897, of all places,
entitled ‘A Royal Bouquet’. This was for the Diamond Jubilee, ten years later, and this bouquet outdid the 1887 with style. It was a horticultural marvel. The golden jubilee bouquet had 50,000 blooms, according to the article, but the 1897 was even larger and better quality.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span><i><span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><i>‘It is impossible to attempt the description in detail of the many thousands of orchids used in this, the most superb bouquet ever seen, endless spikes of all that is best and rarest from her Majesty’s dominion being used, together with almost priceless blossoms of the hybridist’s art raised in this country since our Queen’s accession, many of them unique and of great value, among the choicest varieties being Cattleya Empress of India, C. Our Queen, and C. Victoria Regina, which received awards at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of the 15th instant.’ </i></span></div>
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Captions: <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The false colorised image of
Queen Victoria based on black and white photograph taken near the time of her Golden
Jubilee over-painted with inaccurate hues. The dress should be black with white
lace trimmings, not purple. The jewelry, which is of diamonds, has been painted
gold by mistake. She is wearing the small diamond crown which is almost
entirely diamonds: it contains very little gold. The orders on her left
shoulder are also wrong: the most visible is the badge of the Order of Victoria
and Albert, which has a white ribbon not a blue one, and should be surrounded
by diamonds not gold. Oops.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bDvyAh_wZ1Z5vXcyJIoN8Aidh1d8LXAPKrl2z8ZipeS4vsvAMy6jRbAYIp3SqB9zMwS92A5vhEwqqWp7_5qUVc8oeuHN08GOAf3mpzlRsRg7T9eCVJk9y3Cx8VmoxrGYcv9WZFLX7xM/s1600/Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_Golden_Jubilee_(full).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bDvyAh_wZ1Z5vXcyJIoN8Aidh1d8LXAPKrl2z8ZipeS4vsvAMy6jRbAYIp3SqB9zMwS92A5vhEwqqWp7_5qUVc8oeuHN08GOAf3mpzlRsRg7T9eCVJk9y3Cx8VmoxrGYcv9WZFLX7xM/s1600/Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_Golden_Jubilee_(full).jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Note the orchid bouquets carried by </span></span>Queen Kapiolani and Crown
Princess Liliuokalani of Hawaii at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887. Ruby
Hasegawa Lowe, Robin Yoko Racoma (1993) Liliʻuokalani, Kamehameha Schools Press.
Credited to Bishop Museum. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By Pamela Kelt, author of The Lost Orchid.</span> </span></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1302&dat=18970814&id=A_lPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6827,1547528"></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1302&dat=18970814&id=A_lPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6827,1547528"></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span>Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-84883349884318165652017-05-18T14:19:00.001+01:002023-02-17T13:29:33.538+00:00Sex life of orchids - and wasps<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12SRTo7plExNfDW18jQKmISmizgrxdptgt5pCl2bB5nQOo4bW9PwdKDXf7cEqqcHXy5Xp6ujh_t198gzd3FnJH7-9PlBAmqTb0Pf3Aj_nHyaF_jNkkUc4SgYm701EDo6kuvkFNDtbUhs/s1600/wasp-and-orchid.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12SRTo7plExNfDW18jQKmISmizgrxdptgt5pCl2bB5nQOo4bW9PwdKDXf7cEqqcHXy5Xp6ujh_t198gzd3FnJH7-9PlBAmqTb0Pf3Aj_nHyaF_jNkkUc4SgYm701EDo6kuvkFNDtbUhs/s320/wasp-and-orchid.jpg" width="240" /></a> Everyone knows that orchids are rude. In Medieval times,
images of their suggestive parts were banned - although some clever monks
squeezed in a stray bee orchid here and there.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Orchids are never sexier than when they interact with insects,
especially wasps. Despite offering no nectar or edible material, caterpillar-hunting
wasps just love orchids. There is no other way to say this, but once they find
their prey, they enter the flower backwards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first person to discover this ‘pseudo-copulation’ was a
bespectacled female scientist in the 1920s, one Edith Coleman, who observed and
reported on such behaviour of these misguided wasps when she was in her late
40s. Can you imagine the shuddering gasps of the conservative scientific
community? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span><a name='more'></a></span>She found that the orchids use pheromones to mimic female
wasps. In fact, so strong is the lure, that male wasps will even reject a
female wasp to mate with an orchid. During the encounter, wasps collect pollen
and perform their task for the orchid, taking it to another orchid offering
more, um, action.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmzbiT5d0SfZz_3dNYZJx56pCAMgDq8sikmSTrb5Jx8H6ZggqRy0S_-bKPY2bysPu2czrVO8hCwoUk1ddhfuLWJeruOXQroVsjprv2hbHDhM3G-RNM25pL7899mrfND8kJDj3-fHWhwI/s1600/wasp-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="231" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmzbiT5d0SfZz_3dNYZJx56pCAMgDq8sikmSTrb5Jx8H6ZggqRy0S_-bKPY2bysPu2czrVO8hCwoUk1ddhfuLWJeruOXQroVsjprv2hbHDhM3G-RNM25pL7899mrfND8kJDj3-fHWhwI/s320/wasp-2.jpg" width="205" /></a>Coleman has been recognised with the Australian Natural
History Medallion. And now, a zoologist and author Danielle Clode has written
about the life of Edith Coleman in her book, ‘The Wasp and the Orchid’. There's a <a href="http://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgbGwrzp17?play=true" target="_blank">radio transcript</a>, if you're interested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It sounds like a pulp fiction crime thriller, but hopefully
it will be a better read than the rather sleazy, The Orchid Hunter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is wonderful to see hidden figures being honoured, albeit
somewhat late. Just think of Hidden Figures, Their Finest and even The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Australia has a good track record acknowledging women’s role
in society. Can you remember the excitement when My Brilliant Career first came
out? Good Lord. It was 1979. Well, perhaps Judy Davis might consider the role
if ever they make the film.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently saw David Haig in Pressure, a fascinating
back-room drama hailing the fortitude and wisdom of the meteorologist James
Stagg during Operation Overlord. If a good writer can make weather so riveting,
then why not a botanical breakthrough?<span style="color: #003366; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-51791905397527103082017-05-04T14:28:00.000+01:002018-05-17T19:45:23.060+01:00Northern discovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp4wE0cfvcePjnmNKNJfg4nMqTP6I1G95ICY0jLk65eiv2ox2Uy6bYqqH5Y7taQzBZZ_cJsyDnou_JFhunYyqnvvA7IGMXmQCDhz6VH2-pFOg4p74XW8fwXXGd3SLmtCqlM2g49la_pw/s1600/DSCF9023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp4wE0cfvcePjnmNKNJfg4nMqTP6I1G95ICY0jLk65eiv2ox2Uy6bYqqH5Y7taQzBZZ_cJsyDnou_JFhunYyqnvvA7IGMXmQCDhz6VH2-pFOg4p74XW8fwXXGd3SLmtCqlM2g49la_pw/s320/DSCF9023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
At this time of year, I often scan the hedgerows and meadows for wild British orchids.<br />
<br />
Imagine my delight when I came across this little gem at Cragside, a National Trust gem in the North-East. After some trawling, I decided it was a northern marsh orchid, and its identity has been confirmed.<br />
<br />
Full the full story - and some eerie coincidences - check out my main blog and read about <a href="http://pamkelt.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/fact-fiction-and-fascinating-find.html" target="_blank">Fact, fiction and a fascinating find</a>.Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-70229963450025830572017-04-29T06:00:00.000+01:002018-05-17T19:52:56.988+01:00A taste for orchids?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREz__f7gxEvdA0-sxTOfA_92Lkxaj2untzbsLvFXO0pM_13EOFkVrsssdHMw9fkg02O0E7CTD1PPDuA3jHZO3doZG7N4pDEMElxLbl9yNoxzoSeapJwB8fuZh11oNT1QPDff06f__91c/s1600/slangcover.medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREz__f7gxEvdA0-sxTOfA_92Lkxaj2untzbsLvFXO0pM_13EOFkVrsssdHMw9fkg02O0E7CTD1PPDuA3jHZO3doZG7N4pDEMElxLbl9yNoxzoSeapJwB8fuZh11oNT1QPDff06f__91c/s1600/slangcover.medium.jpg" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Orchids pop up
everywhere.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I came across a fascinating
title courtesy of Project Gutenberg. It’s <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42108" target="_blank">The Slang Dictionary: Etymological,Historical and Andecdotal</a>, by John Camden Hotten, a wonderful 1913 volume, full
of oddities. </span><br /><span style="color: #0f0436;">I love this kind of stuff. Stephen Fry and his QI 'elves' would be jealous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Whenever I find anything
like this, the first thing I do is look up ‘orchid’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I found this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Saloop</b>, <span class="smcaplowercase">SALEP</span>, or <span class="smcaplowercase">SALOP</span>, a greasy-looking beverage, formerly sold on
stalls at early morning, prepared from a powder made of the root of the Orchis
mascula, or Red-handed Orchis. Coffee-stands have superseded <span class="smcaplowercase">SALOOP</span> stalls; but, in addition to other writers,
Charles Lamb, in one of his papers, has left some account of this drinkable,
which he says was of all preparations the most grateful to the stomachs of
young chimney-sweeps. The present generation has no knowledge of this drink,
except that derived from books. The word “slops”—as applied to weak, warm
drink—is very likely derived from the Cockney pronunciation of <span class="smcaplowercase">SALOOP</span>.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZKPCbWhUADqKGDUU8ZA1Pp7nYwZpl_MVCDgpfqCLuh1YgEivW91NpsOd-2KioG87e3pWy6K7fhq0rZZhXAXhrWEj3UYF3x6AI9ZVCbsZnz9MgF6tLDFDU3g4PC_xsLX_UIfeY7uXf0Q/s1600/Orchis_mascula-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZKPCbWhUADqKGDUU8ZA1Pp7nYwZpl_MVCDgpfqCLuh1YgEivW91NpsOd-2KioG87e3pWy6K7fhq0rZZhXAXhrWEj3UYF3x6AI9ZVCbsZnz9MgF6tLDFDU3g4PC_xsLX_UIfeY7uXf0Q/s1600/Orchis_mascula-1.JPG" width="320" /></a>I hastened off to Wikipedia, and found that <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchis_mascula" target="_blank">Orchis mascula</a> i</i><span style="color: #0f0436;">s referred to as “long purple” by
Gertrude in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Gertrude: “Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies,
and long purples, that liberal shepherds give a grosser name.” It goes on to
describe how a flour called salep or sachlav is made of the ground tubers of
this or some other species of orchids. It contains a nutritious starch-like
polysaccharide called glucomannan. In some magical traditions, its root is
called Adam and Eve Root. It is said that witches used tubers of this orchid in
love potions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Webster’s dictionary has a brief entry.
Saloop, apparently, is an aromatic drink prepared from sassafras bark and other
ingredients, at one time much used in London.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Half right. Clarification
appeared with the help of the authoritative </span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;">author Stephen Hart (aka </span>Pascal Bonenfant), whose research
for '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unfortunate-Deaths-Jonathan-Memoirs-Bonenfant-ebook/dp/B00JMV32ZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400837744&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Unfortunate+Deaths+of+Jonathan+Wild+%28The+Memoirs+of+Pascal+Bonenfant%29" target="_blank">The Unfortunate Deaths of Jonathan Wild</a>' evolved into a marvellous
source of 18th-century gems.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Saloop_-_Rowlandson%27s_characteristic_Sketches_of_the_Lower_Orders_%281820%29_-_BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmcdg860Y-nZC6srLoPEf_iVoli0IKN1YWMuPmfmQS-j7h5mbyHWnHDqX2P4UCuokKGKkLPQzlLx9RlGiaPDhHP9mf8Q82WQaD5JFrEBFVJ65gny1djJLFyJq8bm2nXib7YtC6DsbEFE/s1600/Saloop_-_Rowlandson's_characteristic_Sketches_of_the_Lower_Orders_(1820)_-_BL.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Hart describes an intriguing book by <a href="http://www.pascalbonenfant.com/18c/clubs/jt_saloophouses.html" target="_blank">John Timbs</a> called </span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41516/41516-h/41516-h.htm" target="_blank">Club Life of London</a>. In it, he writes </span>that saloop<i> </i>was sold at street stalls
in the capital, and was a 'decoction' of sassafras; but it
was originally made from Salep, the roots of <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orchis mascula</span></i>. Apparently, the tubers, when cleaned and peeled, were lightly toasted in an oven. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">One Dr Percival recommended salep, stating that it had the property of
concealing the taste of salt water, suggesting this might be
of use in long sea-voyages. The the root was considered as
containing the largest portion of nutritious matter in the smallest space; and
when boiled, it was much used in this country before the introduction of tea
and coffee, and their greatly reduced prices. 'Salep is now almost entirely
disused in Great Britain; but we remember many saloop-stalls in our streets. We
believe the last house in which it was sold, to have been Read's Coffee-house,
in Fleet-street. The landlord of the noted Mug-house, in Salisbury-square, was
one Read.’</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">By Pamela Kelt</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Caption:</span> 'Saloop', a popular beverage of the 18th
century. Salop was served in coffee houses as an alternative to coffee
or chocolate; and salop-vendors peddled the drink in the streets, or
sold it from booths. In this picture a soldier is enjoying a cup. By <span class="fn value">Thomas Rowlandson, 1820.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="4" class="toccolours vevent mw-content-ltr" dir="ltr"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><i> </i></span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-63269488794592421342017-04-05T12:49:00.000+01:002018-05-17T19:59:36.113+01:00Wild about orchids in Montenegro<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VDo1kmqCV9K2XzhiELG2N_b9E7exKpFECBTz2kRNeSonqy2Fq8gFpoA_BmLf8Ggc1DjiIWmqy2ybve3OLEx6w4IlR0OXLCmHDk9yJRZP-hK-z-KxFpgpCrJeZidVEv0Z7xfq2WmtUiA/s1600/Montenegro+(87).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VDo1kmqCV9K2XzhiELG2N_b9E7exKpFECBTz2kRNeSonqy2Fq8gFpoA_BmLf8Ggc1DjiIWmqy2ybve3OLEx6w4IlR0OXLCmHDk9yJRZP-hK-z-KxFpgpCrJeZidVEv0Z7xfq2WmtUiA/s1600/Montenegro+(87).JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">If you’re a fan of wild orchids,
and bee orchids in particular, check out a charming post by Marianne van
Twillert about orchids in Montenegro.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Did you know that ophrys is
Greek for “eyebrow”? According to a legend, these flowers provided a brown dye
which the Romans used to day their eyebrows and hair. Ophrys was first
mentioned in the book “Natural History” by Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Most ophrys orchids are found in
the Mediterranean region. They are dependent on symbiotic fungi, so it is
almost impossible to transplant then. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEumFZ52sbMV0x6m4lVwTeLCYdlcBlpTcV4hyphenhyphenRQkaoX99_xYjVrmeL_cmy5J-EI5XV2i_ibl9z3f96EdS8YlC74yrRH4jyf7cPqWJG2K0FnJ82pQL8XH0teueLJn1MY1JvK9OoncFsJEg/s1600/220px-Ophrys_bombyliflora_Mallorca_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEumFZ52sbMV0x6m4lVwTeLCYdlcBlpTcV4hyphenhyphenRQkaoX99_xYjVrmeL_cmy5J-EI5XV2i_ibl9z3f96EdS8YlC74yrRH4jyf7cPqWJG2K0FnJ82pQL8XH0teueLJn1MY1JvK9OoncFsJEg/s1600/220px-Ophrys_bombyliflora_Mallorca_01.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">The most famous one is the bee
orchid (Ophrys apifera), but there are also fly orchids, spider orchids,
mosquito orchids and wasp orchids. This is commonly known, but I was unaware that
such orchids can be seen in the mountains and forests of central Montenegro.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Marianne says she was lucky
enough to find Bertoloni’s bee orchid near a small spring along the hiking
trail from Lovćen to Kotor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-CyUItVRJpNJLwogX25jQY0peDii38TwMRg603FlPrA-oKvCxkXfZKsUnmYHXLpw9cOqgseRs5oEckjYyQ3pst89V5vblHzl11uIo0wIl_tgR6zfEJVzMb30Yl6UQPOZRAvn850Q7z8/s1600/lizard-Himantoglossum_hircinum_(inflorescence).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-CyUItVRJpNJLwogX25jQY0peDii38TwMRg603FlPrA-oKvCxkXfZKsUnmYHXLpw9cOqgseRs5oEckjYyQ3pst89V5vblHzl11uIo0wIl_tgR6zfEJVzMb30Yl6UQPOZRAvn850Q7z8/s1600/lizard-Himantoglossum_hircinum_(inflorescence).jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">There are also super photos of the
early purple orchid (Orchis mascula), the yellow elder-flowered orchid
(Dactylorhiza sambucina). The specific Latin name “sambucina” refers to the
smell of elder emanating by some plants of this species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">You can also read about the lizard
orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) and the monkey orchid (Orchis simia). I didn’t
know they smelled like a ripe orange.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Marianne suggests in her <a href="http://montenegro-for.me/tag/wild-orchids/" target="_blank">blog</a> that someone organise
wildflower or orchid tours for foreign tourists. What a brilliant idea.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
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Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-15503819320227716722016-09-16T12:44:00.000+01:002016-09-16T12:50:25.782+01:00Vanilla dilemma<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">It’s all very well to promise
natural ingredients, but major corporations have triggered a vanilla crisis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanilla_spec._-_Flickr_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCEjoTFBjSPEVtr-USn3JMDLsNzFrmnCdOUGJKpuE9UAVsRMSaWvq4OUv8anF0YmL0R9BsdiO4uZlFTOFUtv4DbOnJpLzSJyoWuys93lPw2Y8S699Xn96g_Ni-wY9llPR1jN7Z77FT-k/s320/Vanilla_spec._-_Flickr_003.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">World production of natural
vanilla is minute and has been falling in recent years. Did you know that less
than 1% of vanilla flavour comes from actual vanilla orchids?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">With demand increasing, there is
a serious shortage of this fragrant and special orchid. Vanilla is a labour-intensive crop, requiring 600 hand-pollinated blossoms to produce a single kilo of cured beans. Beans are picked while still green and sold to fermentation plants where workers sort, blanch, steam, and dry the beans in the sun. They are then sorted again, dried in the shade, and fermented while workers continually evaluate their aroma and inspect each bean for quality.<br /><br />Farmers can get funding from organic or fair trade organisations, but it is difficult to plant more orchids because their farms are often quite small. Even then, it takes four years for those vines to reach maturity.<br /> </span></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Scientists are trying to produce more and better substitutes, such as vanillin. For instance, one option would be to engineer yeast to make vanillin from raw materials such as molasses, which contains ferulic acid. </span><span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">There’s a fascinating article
about the problem, along with the quirky history of the vanilla plantation –
and the flavour wheel, used by the food community to track the specific
attributes of an ingredient, food, or beverage. One such vanilla wheel measures 29 distinct flavour characteristics grouped into ten main categories: smoky, spicy, botanical, sulphury, sweet,
creamy, medicinal, cooked, fatty, and floral.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">And just like wine, natural vanilla grown in
different places, such as Madagascar, Mexico, or Tahiti, has different taste
and potency profiles. Bake Off fans might be interested to know that Madagascar vanilla, typically called Bourbon vanilla, is
highly sought for its rummy taste and sweet aroma. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> I learn something new every day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Read more <a href="http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i36/problem-vanilla.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-54834745452243504742016-08-24T12:11:00.001+01:002016-08-24T12:16:12.359+01:00Orchids in amber<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">It is known that beetles can pollinate plants,
but thanks to new fossil evidence, it seems beetles were pollinating certain orchids in particular a staggering 20
million years ago.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GRGl2Tzd6nWtAL0c6aLNXZa6nbXoIeKdp47Y4DZrTSP0kBH3kPA7gLecgbXuxxIrKGYIcMS45rAOpTYt6mQgY1bVGQhw_wRl8xgaUNO8IVlixmDG6wlQXd91Cmi7tbdh3mYJ7G0TMtU/s1600/800px-Insect_in_ambers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GRGl2Tzd6nWtAL0c6aLNXZa6nbXoIeKdp47Y4DZrTSP0kBH3kPA7gLecgbXuxxIrKGYIcMS45rAOpTYt6mQgY1bVGQhw_wRl8xgaUNO8IVlixmDG6wlQXd91Cmi7tbdh3mYJ7G0TMtU/s320/800px-Insect_in_ambers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Fossilised amber from the
Miocene epoch in Mexico and the Dominican Republic reveal beetles with orchid
pollen attached to the thorax.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">Scientists know that some beetles
use orchids for nectar, but no fossil evidence had been uncovered showing beetles
in the distant past pollinating orchids until now.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">The first specimen is a 0.4mm
long hidden-snout beetle (subfamily Cryptorhynchinae) found in a piece of 20-45
million year old amber from the Dominican Republic. Orchid pollinaria from the Cylindrocites
browni can be seen attached to its thorax.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">Larvae breed in stems or wood
and the adults are known to visit flowers. Cryptorhynchinae were quite diverse
in the Dominican amber forest, say experts in the <a href="http://ae.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/3/172" target="_blank">report</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The other specimen was a
toe-winged beetle (family Ptilodactylidae) that was found in a piece of 22-26
million year old Mexican amber. This toe-winged beetle (1.4 mm in length) had
pollinaria from an orchid described as Annulites mexicana attached to the body.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">No current-day hidden-snout
beetles have been seen visiting orchid plants, and no current-day toe-winged
beetles have been seen with pollinaria.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Another clipping to add the amazing role of orchids in science. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">As I sit here, on a constant vigil to stop beetles eating my patio lilies, I wonder if beetles consumed orchids, too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Caption: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Insect_in_ambers.jpg" target="_blank">an insect trapped in amber</a> </span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-11765348449790953242016-07-29T10:18:00.000+01:002016-07-29T10:23:29.328+01:00Perils of nature<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlK0Q6Yuc_Ucp1u0S7bUm4lJ-EqtPqmtmAHQ_UB1PviwmVxhmIxqiFX-_bLyRQWHSHXKfRAWCZBgYTyGJ97w_lUrCEUdwH-q-cC0PcNBLgJot_wfCDu5In6GDVGvNiro6ZOvprkxqJbo/s1600/Grass_Pink_Orchid%252C_NPSPhoto%252C_S_%25289102076426%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlK0Q6Yuc_Ucp1u0S7bUm4lJ-EqtPqmtmAHQ_UB1PviwmVxhmIxqiFX-_bLyRQWHSHXKfRAWCZBgYTyGJ97w_lUrCEUdwH-q-cC0PcNBLgJot_wfCDu5In6GDVGvNiro6ZOvprkxqJbo/s320/Grass_Pink_Orchid%252C_NPSPhoto%252C_S_%25289102076426%2529.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">An open-pit mine is the latest
in unlikely locations to host a natural colony of wild orchids. But not for
long ... Once again, orchids symbolise the transient nature of landscape
change.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">Privately-owned wetland Adirondack
Park in upstate NY is a wetland is formed of coarse sand left over when granite
ore was crushed to extract iron from 1900 until 1978. Bare sand was eventually colonised
by moss, lichen, grasses, sedges and trees, including willows, poplars and
tamaracks.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">As part of this evolutionary
process, tiny orchid seeds blew in, and now the wetland is the proud owner of six
species of bog orchids, including millions of rose pogonias and grass pinks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Experts <a href="http://macaudailytimes.com.mo/nature-millions-orchids-grow-former-mine-site-upstate-ny.html" target="_blank">report</a> the variety of
fungi that colonise a plant’s root system and enhance its ability to absorb
nutrients is partly responsible for the colonisation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">But nature moves on, and the
orchids may be a fleeting botanical memory, for the already, an aggressive
non-native reed called phragmites is choking out other plants in the area. With
the inevitable lack of sunshine, it is expected they will decline.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">A classic case of botanical carpe
diem.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grass_Pink_Orchid,_NPSPhoto,_S_%289102076426%29.jpg" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #0f0436;">Pictured: the delicate grasspink orchid</span></i></a></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-41435094606592748032016-07-27T16:00:00.000+01:002016-07-27T16:16:16.152+01:00Fitting new look for lady’s slipper orchid <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6GvXsatNUgkCGGnflFMQzq-wVz-SmynnHdZs0mlSPLN201dOsJnjFxB3Mq9v8xwS4HG6-x-_6JcqDgZMGVJitn9R3MbG-uZW_a-CGeZNAynKg7erQX4Z5pNs9YP4mNfuGcCODBLwjKk/s1600/ukraine-2016-2G-lady-slippe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6GvXsatNUgkCGGnflFMQzq-wVz-SmynnHdZs0mlSPLN201dOsJnjFxB3Mq9v8xwS4HG6-x-_6JcqDgZMGVJitn9R3MbG-uZW_a-CGeZNAynKg7erQX4Z5pNs9YP4mNfuGcCODBLwjKk/s320/ukraine-2016-2G-lady-slippe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #0f0436;">Orchids pop up in so many
designs, from wallpaper to food art, that it was a treat to find that one
particular specimen appearing on a new coin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The <a href="https://bank.gov.ua/control/en/currentmoney/cmcoin/details?coin_id=700" target="_blank">National Bank of Ukraine</a> has
issued the latest coin in its continuing series, “Flora and Fauna of Ukraine”
in an inspired project honouring endangered species of plants found in and
around the country. The latest issue features the orchid affectionately
referred to as Lady’s Slipper, or Cypripedium Calceolus. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">Regarded as one of the most
famous orchids of the northern hemisphere, the elegant lady’s slipper orchid is
said to be named after the footwear of Eastern European footwear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The slipper-shaped lip traps
insects as they are forced to climb up past the staminode, a stem modified to
produce nectar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa6icqveYcP_7Nu9wLZLYDq7QqfuCX7S4FWmjKyirFHXQSxRS_wmNfzaILfH5TdASdDB18WBRq_d_gO3H9b8tCz4iaM2sJJrR0rFGSwrb3FMBv8rkujDtl7vj0GkvSUpGRLlT0HvP1bQ/s1600/Cypripediumcalceolus-levels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa6icqveYcP_7Nu9wLZLYDq7QqfuCX7S4FWmjKyirFHXQSxRS_wmNfzaILfH5TdASdDB18WBRq_d_gO3H9b8tCz4iaM2sJJrR0rFGSwrb3FMBv8rkujDtl7vj0GkvSUpGRLlT0HvP1bQ/s320/Cypripediumcalceolus-levels.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Experts will also know that, unlike
most other orchids, these blooms have two fertile anthers which classifies them
as “diandrous”, causing botanists to question whether this clade or group of
organisms should be classified within the orchid family, Orchidaceae, or if
they should be designated as a separate family altogether, referred to as
Cypripediaceae. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Other things you might not know?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has declined over much of the
European part of its range, and as a result is legally protected in a number of
countries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The Norwegian municipality of
Snåsa has a Cypripedium calceolus in its coat-of-arms. And finally, in Pavel
Ivanovich Melnikov's “In the Forests”, a znakharka (Russian wise woman) calls
this Adam’s head, Adam’s grass, and even Cuckoo’s slippers and says the flower is
good for every ill including driving away evil spirits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">But back to the coins (ten and
two Hryvnia worth 30p and 6p respectively), produced by the Mint of Ukraine,
are designed by Volodymyr Demianenko. What makes the two-hryvnia coins
particularly stunning is that the obverse of the nickel silver pieces includes
a faithfully replicated colour depiction of the lady slipper orchid, with the
semi-circular inscription, зозулині черевички справжні, above the primary
design, and CYPRIPEDIUM CALCEOLUS L below. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLqHmVAqKqh1aqFVaBoXdNmMQCd_UrlcjFtJiBMWLm6nZ_UEAGYyViFXrZjkK89q0VtpPCbeDNpQWyXizvrJRT7MJz-uWmGJu1wWF6Pw5NTUJKScaUQiPPcndoWe7T6wQ3ZjV_QMcQ_Y/s1600/ukraine-2016-10G-lady-slipp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLqHmVAqKqh1aqFVaBoXdNmMQCd_UrlcjFtJiBMWLm6nZ_UEAGYyViFXrZjkK89q0VtpPCbeDNpQWyXizvrJRT7MJz-uWmGJu1wWF6Pw5NTUJKScaUQiPPcndoWe7T6wQ3ZjV_QMcQ_Y/s320/ukraine-2016-10G-lady-slipp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The reverse side includes the
Ukrainian crest positioned toward the top with a garland of flowers, and a
songbird that surrounds the coin’s denomination.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">I am not a numismatologist, but
I would find it hard not to keep one of these. I hope it wouldn't be insulting to suggest
that it would make delightful charms for a bracelet, necklace or key fob, for
example? </span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-19915905865431652872016-05-19T11:19:00.001+01:002016-05-19T11:19:09.894+01:00Orchid gem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkOke79sNAjfLW7bY7Csikfej6jU2JdzpDV0RNnPcrGRKRDO0B8Sx2FqpFEhEQHvvCvN0bJ5ykJqZIWvB0rGLIRhY0KYidZ3wncp8vc5PWY3O3tRonNUoBtxtFbCRIVXQD9QAcjeSXdE/s1600/montenegro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkOke79sNAjfLW7bY7Csikfej6jU2JdzpDV0RNnPcrGRKRDO0B8Sx2FqpFEhEQHvvCvN0bJ5ykJqZIWvB0rGLIRhY0KYidZ3wncp8vc5PWY3O3tRonNUoBtxtFbCRIVXQD9QAcjeSXdE/s320/montenegro.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
I thought I'd share a delightful <a href="http://montenegro-for.me/2016/05/orchid-tours-to-montenegro/" target="_blank">orchid post</a> from a blog I follow about Living in Montenegro.<br />
<br />
In fact, I first came across it while researching material for the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cloud-Pearl-Legends-Liria-Book-ebook/dp/B01DC8B6AE/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463653022&sr=1-6" target="_blank">Legends of Liria</a> series inspired by a holiday to this amazing country in question, and have been reading the weekly column ever since.<br />
<br />
Despite my orchid fetish, I had no clue it was such a hotbed of wild orchids.<br />
<br />
See for yourself. The photographs are super.<br />
<br />
I might just have to revisit Montenegro this time next year ...Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-31871941327924240852016-05-06T08:00:00.000+01:002016-05-06T08:00:32.625+01:00Focus on wild orchids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #0f0436;">Heaven for orchidmaniacs. It's time to get out
into the wild and photograph wild orchids to help the
National History Museum to help examine what impact climate change is having on
the UK’s orchids.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">An astonishing 56 native species
of orchid grow wild in the UK, flowering from April to September. Recent
research indicates that climate change is affecting the flowering time of the
early spider orchid, Ophrys sphegodes. Researchers now want to find out if this
is true for other wild orchids and whether all species are responding in the same
way, starting with 29 species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">They need as many people as
possible to photograph orchids this spring and summer, and to send them the
images with the date and location.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">This is quite a project, for alongside
this, they have around 15,000 orchid specimens in the museum’s British and
Irish herbarium. Collected over three centuries, they indicate flowering times
in the past. Putting all this data together is a huge task, so this is how you
can help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><a href="http://www.orchidobservers.org/" target="_blank">Visit the website</a> and find the guide
for how to photograph local orchids and identify photos that other
orchidmaniacs have loaded.</span></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Orchids are widespread across
the UK and some species are actually quite common. A useful starting point is
the Wildlife Trusts</span><span style="color: #0f0436;"><span style="color: #0f0436;">’</span> <a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/40_places_to_see_orchids.pdf" target="_blank">‘40 places to see orchids’</a>.</span><span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">For orchids further north, try
these <a href="http://www.pnielsen.f2s.com/orchids1.htm" target="_blank">guide</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">If you’re worried about the
plants being in danger from collectors, the research team felt the risk
outweighed the need to protect these beautiful flowers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-22704399430960011012016-04-02T15:37:00.002+01:002016-04-02T15:37:51.372+01:00Art and artifice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmE4lU-zPT3-WMBzF_YUMm8GIXdDCnc90WPKusOLY9GhO0SmSbh7S6nCbxb2DFvL9XYo9XO6lWCmqQOf-F0NjBaPXVd04OK1UK5YnRgK51uZzD6tugaie7NZVriU_ZqhT_cFKHn2clA8/s1600/draculabella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmE4lU-zPT3-WMBzF_YUMm8GIXdDCnc90WPKusOLY9GhO0SmSbh7S6nCbxb2DFvL9XYo9XO6lWCmqQOf-F0NjBaPXVd04OK1UK5YnRgK51uZzD6tugaie7NZVriU_ZqhT_cFKHn2clA8/s320/draculabella.jpg" width="214" /></a>Orchids are a conniving species. They lure pollinators by creating clever disguises to mimic food, rivals, or even mates. Bamboozled insects then carry pollen from one flower to another – and so the clever orchid can reproduce.<br /><br />Scientists have to be similarly cunning to study this ingenious species and have turned to models from a 3D printer. Canny researchers can now show how one particular orchid tricks fungus-seeking flies by mimicking the sight and smell of their favourite mushrooms.<br /><br />As flowers have so many colours, shapes, and smells, it’s quite a task to specify what parts of a flower are actually attracting pollinators. Scientists are now tackling this problem by using artificial flowers. They add different odours to fake flowers can watch how a pollinator reacts to smell alone. In the past, such flowers were created of paper, cotton balls, or test tubes with cotton wicks. <br /><br />But now they’ve gone one step further to study the Dracula lafleurii, a lurid specimen found in the cloud forest of Ecuador. (They're similar in their bloodthirsty colouring to the Dracula bella, pictured.) A single petal of this unusual orchid resembles the fungi that live nearby and so attract flies that come along, often to breed on the mushrooms. Imagine trying to ‘origami’ such a complex form, and in the damp forest, the paper would simply disintegrate. Instead, scientists engaged artist Melinda Barnadas to develop a technique for creating artificial Dracula orchids. Now, with the help of 3D-scanning, the team can print 3D gypsum moulds from which they manufacture silicone orchids in whatever colour patterns required.<br /><br />The team set up the artificial flowers next to actual Dracula orchids in the cloud forest. They modified both the fakes and the real flowers, changing the colours and patterns, and adding or removing scents, according to a <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/02/how-3d-printing-unraveled-dracula-orchid-s-disguise" target="_blank">report</a> in New Phytologist. They even made several “Frankenstein” flowers, pieced together from artificial and natural flower parts. Then it was time to sit down and watch to witness which blooms got more attention from the flies.<br /><br />They concluded that orchids wanted a certain look and the right smell. Fake flowers attracted fewer insects than the real blooms. Only when the researchers applied scents from natural orchids were just as many flies attracted to the mimics as to the real flowers. <br /><br />What a marvellous combination of art, artifice and science. Much like orchids themselves.<br /><br />Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-38347206927553827212015-12-29T17:53:00.002+00:002015-12-29T18:03:38.145+00:00Good news<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3gWL3lwE-KmHK9EpPixKpSDW6C1oJxLTHRVXqbRXQ8cBiiSTKD7VPhWCaHwOOYUVF6my9c1IgJUN9sKxWGS0QBBLponzR0CDdq9NvtKrt9yE0SAgkSksmyvisyQr08-ij6ELMxYIatM/s1600/Cloud-Forest-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3gWL3lwE-KmHK9EpPixKpSDW6C1oJxLTHRVXqbRXQ8cBiiSTKD7VPhWCaHwOOYUVF6my9c1IgJUN9sKxWGS0QBBLponzR0CDdq9NvtKrt9yE0SAgkSksmyvisyQr08-ij6ELMxYIatM/s320/Cloud-Forest-15.jpg" width="213" /></a>A happy <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-this-years-bumper-harvest-of-new-plant-species-has-exciting-implications-a6787091.html" target="_blank">story</a> about new botanical discoveries by Kew researchers that warms the cockles of this orchidmaniac's heart.<br />
<br />
They include six new orchids a three-metre slipper orchid, Selenipedium dodsonii, from Ecuador. It was identified from a specimen taken from the wild decades ago and stored unnoticed in a US herbarium. <br />
<br />
Many of the discoveries have potential
for use in medicines and by the
aromatherapy industry. Others can assist production of crops to be cross-bred with the commercial species to create new varieties that might be more disease-resistant or able to grow in drier or wetter areas. Specific genes might also be transferred to create genetically modified strains.<br />
<br />
Pictured: rope suspension bridge inviting you to explore the cloud forest in Ecuador.<br />
<br />
Go Kew.<br />
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-59576746048932360342015-11-13T18:28:00.000+00:002015-11-13T18:29:45.442+00:00In pursuit of lost orchids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwInmEFTcitJ5a_1dgv6oIAnlcmfRcceVjgja1l8wjFSllR-DVeAbsEyy84qPYvE1dWSmI1pKQawJk6pcuNfyQJmjobmYwqf3_zGozj5YreV3q2lSfMkJeJcIy-dm7kIyhcC_5yKsfUFU/s1600/Cowhorn_Orchid_%25284%2529%252C_NPSPhoto_%25289099846949%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwInmEFTcitJ5a_1dgv6oIAnlcmfRcceVjgja1l8wjFSllR-DVeAbsEyy84qPYvE1dWSmI1pKQawJk6pcuNfyQJmjobmYwqf3_zGozj5YreV3q2lSfMkJeJcIy-dm7kIyhcC_5yKsfUFU/s320/Cowhorn_Orchid_%25284%2529%252C_NPSPhoto_%25289099846949%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">Florida hosts a treasure trove
of orchids, especially state park Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. Now scientists
there are keen to restore certain species lost through the years as a result of
poachers and habitat destruction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The allure of so-called 'lost orchids' never dies (see below). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span><span style="color: #0f0436;">The park is located on a shallow
swamp, marked by tall cypress trees. Orchid thieves are common,
especially where cowhorn orchid are concerned. Over the past ten years, and in working
in partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Fakahatchee scientists have
harvested seeds and re-cultivated cowhorn orchids for replanting throughout the
swamp.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The spectacular cowhorn, with
its hundreds of dotted flowers, was down to just 17 orchids in the 85,000-acre
park. Ten years on, there are several hundred. A similar success was had with the
dollar orchid, another endangered species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Sadly, two other orchids are lost
to Florida in general, namely the rat-tail orchid and another known only by its
scientific name, Epidendrum acunae. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Much time and effort and energy has
been spent seeking these lost orchids, but it seems they are locally extinct,
according to local <a href="http://www.npr.org/" target="_blank">reports</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">In a bid to restore the lost
orchids to Fakahatchee, scientists turned to Cuba, just 200 miles away and
asked for help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The botanical garden possessed
both species and are now helping to restore the ‘lost orchids’ to Florida.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">________________________________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Orchid-Pamela-Kelt-ebook/dp/B00JFXTKJU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447439081&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Lost+Orchids" target="_blank">The Lost Orchid</a> by Pamela Kelt is available on Amazon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvSD_1wRxRuKpgq4ldCSXRWRryHwH_IOnsSRcCxxWtdbdNSP4VurGMFClgtf_AnVDEV3bdA9h6dSelVH3aV7mTDh_zljKBQSXTsjnOxTfotMkk_7JexrqLmzx9WbhMGPxSAAU0CyTw9Q/s1600/TheLostOrchidARE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvSD_1wRxRuKpgq4ldCSXRWRryHwH_IOnsSRcCxxWtdbdNSP4VurGMFClgtf_AnVDEV3bdA9h6dSelVH3aV7mTDh_zljKBQSXTsjnOxTfotMkk_7JexrqLmzx9WbhMGPxSAAU0CyTw9Q/s1600/TheLostOrchidARE.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-296043033350577732015-09-18T08:00:00.000+01:002015-09-18T08:00:03.027+01:00Sad plight of white orchid gem<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX2QrT_nUqdl6ovRaQxoJRPF3C7cfrCEHDAlLpHLH4xPkv-ZM-MsBxTXdUCU1iw85hrB9D20RwPDzblLJrL70slssyPTssHEH4onOqIV_MRvt6CVZLHFKtuZyrNHEx9jL_ti-IuM-ozE/s1600/391px-Close_up_of_small_white_fringeless_orchid_flower_platanthera_integrilabia_blossoms_in_cluster_on_stalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX2QrT_nUqdl6ovRaQxoJRPF3C7cfrCEHDAlLpHLH4xPkv-ZM-MsBxTXdUCU1iw85hrB9D20RwPDzblLJrL70slssyPTssHEH4onOqIV_MRvt6CVZLHFKtuZyrNHEx9jL_ti-IuM-ozE/s400/391px-Close_up_of_small_white_fringeless_orchid_flower_platanthera_integrilabia_blossoms_in_cluster_on_stalk.jpg" width="260" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">The white fringeless orchid is
at risk, reports the US Fish and Wildlife Service.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Although not facing extinction, numbers
are low numbers at more than half the orchid’s known locations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Apparently, there are 58 known
occurrences of the orchid, across five south-eastern states, mostly in forested
wetlands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Sadly, the afflicted orchid it
appears to depend on a limited number of butterflies (the silver spotted
skipper, spicebush swallowtail (pictured), and eastern tiger swallowtail) and a single
species of fungi to complete its life cycle, so it is highly vulnerable. the
silver spotted skipper, spicebush swallowtail, and eastern tiger swallowtail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">One population in Winston
County, Alabama, disappeared after the removal of beaver dams, while others
have been lost through construction. Deer have been spotted eating them, and
they’ve even been dug up and consumed by feral hogs. Humans are also to blame,
still collecting this beautiful orchid for sale.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHtbDi8MSl3Xs8oW0bJ14mgboqEC1kJLh8gFtkkqUc0BnaYkFWrhXqkfGFTusW7BPJNWw7pZfUDfmdbwN22I6AP-hHVh5iLbQl91Bze4nct7OM_TrZj4X9Lq-v7P9yEm5tNPoPhd0NVU/s1600/Female_Spicebush_Swallowtail_Megan_McCarty07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHtbDi8MSl3Xs8oW0bJ14mgboqEC1kJLh8gFtkkqUc0BnaYkFWrhXqkfGFTusW7BPJNWw7pZfUDfmdbwN22I6AP-hHVh5iLbQl91Bze4nct7OM_TrZj4X9Lq-v7P9yEm5tNPoPhd0NVU/s200/Female_Spicebush_Swallowtail_Megan_McCarty07.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;">The service hopes to the
increase conservation efforts needed to recover the plant.</span></div>
<br />Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-20078889750677230442015-08-07T15:57:00.001+01:002016-09-16T14:21:11.419+01:00Orchid oddity<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Common_spotted_orchid_1.jpg/384px-Common_spotted_orchid_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:Common spotted orchid 1.jpg" border="0" data-file-height="1234" data-file-width="790" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Common_spotted_orchid_1.jpg/384px-Common_spotted_orchid_1.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">A lucky orchidmaniac has made a
fabulous find in Cumbria. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Frog_Orchid_-_Coeloglossum_viride_%2814356357219%29.jpg/400px-Frog_Orchid_-_Coeloglossum_viride_%2814356357219%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="File:Frog Orchid - Coeloglossum viride (14356357219).jpg" border="0" data-file-height="5184" data-file-width="3456" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Frog_Orchid_-_Coeloglossum_viride_%2814356357219%29.jpg/400px-Frog_Orchid_-_Coeloglossum_viride_%2814356357219%29.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">While counting frog orchids at
Plantlife's Augill Pasture reserve in Cumbria, Lois Harbron discovered a hybrid
cross of frog orchid and common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) - both pictured here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Named “X Dactyloglossum mixtum” it
could be dubbed a “pink frog orchid”. Just imagine a blend of the two and there you have it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Hybrid orchids are not too uncommon,
according to the <a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/about_us/blog/" target="_blank">Plantlife blog</a>. The marsh and spotted Dactylorhiza orchids often
“cross”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">This particular one, however, is quite rare. Since 2000, it’s only
been found at about 15 sites in Britain. It looks like this hybrid is also a
new record for the county.</span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-83345691866247098902015-06-19T08:00:00.000+01:002015-06-19T08:00:03.979+01:00Going native over wild orchids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #0f0436;">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.</span><span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tongue_Orchid_%28Serapias_lingua%29_%288337405249%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIY93bASIyKhpTnXk9MsmhoJhTwg3K15BrfCWumG2KIMy8ZaJn5kY_v7LnC0eX5Wr9I4jERwh-tgfEXji4JZJMVDS5cOor1nYaBSP_TGxP_YTJ6VjVe9BzftifR5EnK5mKEP8_tpd9eE/s320/Serapias_lingua.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">A little gem.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">By Pamela Kelt</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">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. </span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-15918910724991568342015-06-12T08:00:00.000+01:002015-06-12T08:00:03.818+01:00Fresh light on SA orchids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartholina_burmanniana_SpiderOrchid_Cape_Renosterveld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXZ2NUCYW7naOrPHfh99ads8Faw-JRs_fu0-elL6yVNuvUqshV5WgeqU6XjBSr9bameGOLGRiqYQsf0cMBVLwVxG5MpauYltEEt6b2neDl1NJWgD4ITXYS9uoNCHVvKJYcGnFF-y4jts/s320/SASpiderOrchid_Cape_Renosterveld.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">South Africa has an
extraordinary treasure trove of orchids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><a href="https://www.nhbs.com/title/204399/orchids-of-south-africa?bkfno=222330" target="_blank">Orchids of South Africa</a> is the
first field guide to orchids in the area to be published in more than three
decades. Orchid maniacs can drool over the nearly 500 orchid species found in
the region, including Lesotho and Swaziland. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">It features a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>comprehensive over-view of orchids in their
natural habitat, with photographs of each speices, distribution maps, flowering
time-bars, and descriptive text to help with identification.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The paperback, by authors Steve
Johnson and Benny Bytebier with illustrator Herbert Stärker, came out in May,
with a grand 536 pages and 2,500 colour photos. From publisher Random House
Struik, it’s available to purchase online for £19.99.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Caption: Bartholina burmanniana,
Spider Orchid, a geophyte from Western Cape Renosterveld vegetation, South
Africa</span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-70337876627166628532015-06-05T12:14:00.000+01:002015-06-05T12:14:19.114+01:00Risk of extinction<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winaywayna_orchid_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzCemfkTuwHwP6iV4JdgYKz9Z1iMNcSyBWaaNDCcI4sfb1lJ7Nyx34YlEcAi7iiJue66lLGBRrz2i32u_1KWA9C5iP-Gp-oM8Ovt_GmAIAU8YdnQhm9za-lPihdT2gKruVb6TV38wUMY/s320/Peru-Winaywayna_orchid_2.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span><span style="color: #0f0436;">The Lima Orchid (Chloraea
undulata) was considered extinct for more than half a century, until it was
rediscovered thriving in the hills of Asia in Cañete.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Sadly, this is no time to be
complacent. It seems that Peru has more than 1,000 species at risk of
extinction, including certain orchids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">A group of nearly 100 researchers
and specialists, working with the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor)
has assembled the list of endangered species of wild flora. It will appear in
October.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The previous 2006 list totalled 777
species of flora. Now the new list aims to educate and promote the significance
of preserving the biodiversity of flora. Other endangered flora include
rosewood, cedar and mahogany.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">By Pamela Kelt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Caption: Epidendrum secundum, Peru</span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-80619609169595086162015-04-29T14:20:00.002+01:002015-04-29T14:20:26.180+01:00Orchid volunteers, please<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orchis_anthropophora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66JLDokCwnv_zoEInKwdgFZpLRTFKHDh_Aazq97uf8-KLzcTSHVBmwhyIvAiwV8poKaHKZgfuNo3YHKTqB1Y2-jNWdYYcnWocgJpUkcBkgRc0woT39xeV3jUhuvYGYII_7B15q5mp1OI/s1600/Orchis_anthropophora.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">A fascinating new orchid project
is asking for volunteers.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The Natural History Museum has launched
<a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2015/april/spot-uk-orchids-and-help-research-climate-change-impact134346.html" target="_blank">Orchid Observers</a> to investigate how climate change is affecting orchid
flowering times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Scientists have noted that the
flowering time of the early spider orchid, Ophrys sphegodes, is clearly affected
and they want to find out how changes in the environment are affecting other
wild orchids. They are asking people to look out for flowering orchids, take
photographs and upload them, with the date and location, to the project
website.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Also, as part of Orchid
Observers, which is in collaboration with the University of Oxford's
Zooniverse, people can help digitise historical orchid collections by reading
and recording label information from the more than 10,000 museum orchid
specimens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The plan is to combine these observations
with historical records to span nearly two centuries to compare against climate
records over the same period.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The results could inform future
research on how climate change affects not just individual species, but whole
ecosystems. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /> </span></div>
Caption:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The man orchid (Orchis
anthropophora) is found in southeast England and begins flowering in early May
to late June.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
By Pamela Kelt</div>
<br />Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-47285964308217998022015-04-24T18:10:00.000+01:002015-04-24T18:31:37.814+01:00Hanging gardens of ... Tokyo<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://www.team-lab.net/all/art/ffgarden.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25_5qmPzDGcrgM8KIigb_AxDVr4f5NmxmPjOnmnbF59jKQjPMJjI3gruvmXLCY5KXo3x9W43VD0e6M8p7-6y-5pPNBWmwNp58VkyzVPngKMfQQ2iRWMHe5kbtlQlOoq-AhVyRUlGUP_o/s1600/floating.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0f0436;">An extraordinary garden is
delighting visitors to Japan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">A few years ago, before I came down with this serious dose of orchidmania, I would not have believed that these were all the same species, given the astonishing variety of form and colour. Now I know better. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">A suspended, living arrangement
of 2,300 flowers rise and fall around viewers as they move through the space at
the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. ‘Floating Flower
Garden: Flowers and I are of the same root, the Garden and I are one’, a project
by Japanese artists at teamLab. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">A computer-controlled system
shifts the myriad orchids up and down depending on who is below. Flowers part like
curtains, forming a bubble around the viewer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The orchids on display take in
water and nutrients through their roots and are soil-free, meaning the garden
is actually growing, even though it’s installed upside-down. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">According to the artists, the
scent of each flower is intensified when it’s pollinated by its corresponding
partner insects, and the fragrance changes throughout the day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The run has been extended to 10 May,
due to demand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Check out the <a href="http://www.team-lab.net/all/art/ffgarden.html" target="_blank">video</a> to get the full
floral effect.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">By Pamela Kelt</span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-38394011799268871402015-04-05T12:58:00.000+01:002015-04-05T12:58:35.623+01:00Orchids of glass<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Stunning glass orchids that look
more real than their natural counterparts are to go on show next month.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphPJoI-MYhNC_1pg3V-YDV6ps8DcfZRfqFnqWDOMpTyKOK2CBk3QwTcAI1pNv0CJDYsxtT_QFkJlItV8Hm-IKIg25fvuq-NmNDjYhBfCcMQBWbg0ornXxcXe5yPDdABlkDOS-63UT7uI/s1600/glass+orchids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphPJoI-MYhNC_1pg3V-YDV6ps8DcfZRfqFnqWDOMpTyKOK2CBk3QwTcAI1pNv0CJDYsxtT_QFkJlItV8Hm-IKIg25fvuq-NmNDjYhBfCcMQBWbg0ornXxcXe5yPDdABlkDOS-63UT7uI/s1600/glass+orchids.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Seattle artist Debora Moore
creates sculpted glass orchids inspired by her travels and love of nature. “Glass
Orchidarium” opens May 16 at the Northwest African American Museum in her home
city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Imagine the nightmare of packing up these fragile beauties up to be delivered to the exhibition!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">To see more of Debora's fine glass work, visit her <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220324606741741280/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">I've been a fan of Dale Chihuly for years, but perhaps he has a rival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7zbhfWM99efTsD44FIWcoEitWbgY70ItEFz2L-FM_kWQd7mhKzOgRlNEIQGIGRZoPF_D3M2yo99c4PTYmDDfEeKHAhDIr_Z0dGvyhhOyr1oXe87mfpQoSPBj6PjWsm8oVUckFADYlSQ/s1600/DSCF5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7zbhfWM99efTsD44FIWcoEitWbgY70ItEFz2L-FM_kWQd7mhKzOgRlNEIQGIGRZoPF_D3M2yo99c4PTYmDDfEeKHAhDIr_Z0dGvyhhOyr1oXe87mfpQoSPBj6PjWsm8oVUckFADYlSQ/s1600/DSCF5777.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"> By Pamela Kelt</span></div>
<span style="color: #0f0436;"></span>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-44851663238054841772015-03-13T08:00:00.000+00:002015-03-13T08:00:00.889+00:00Petal power<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhOkuNFOKvTGFJYSyq7g1XF_Nne7TO20PEEY5FxnRiyxtg8emIGnI0AfPDELaufet6oUJFvS-r6p7NQeqr1gy1m38GBB7yhb_pSuJgfqNb2vhYFsJSUMHV6KF9KcySEY2hrq5QQuTeYw/s1600/Wild_orchids_by_the_A350_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1374455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhOkuNFOKvTGFJYSyq7g1XF_Nne7TO20PEEY5FxnRiyxtg8emIGnI0AfPDELaufet6oUJFvS-r6p7NQeqr1gy1m38GBB7yhb_pSuJgfqNb2vhYFsJSUMHV6KF9KcySEY2hrq5QQuTeYw/s1600/Wild_orchids_by_the_A350_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1374455.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: #0f0436;">The new government-funded
National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) will enable scientists to take an
annual stock take of the UK’s wild plants and their habitats for the first
time.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">They need our help and are hunting
for volunteers to carry out surveys of wildflowers, including orchids. Their habitats that will
provide evidence of plant species increasing or declining, as well as
indicating the changing state of valued grassland and fenland habitats as well as road verges (as pictured). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Volunteers will receive survey
guidance and a colour ID guide full of beautiful photos and illustrations of
the 408 NPMS species. There will also be the opportunity to attend training
workshops up and down the country to get to grips with the methodology and
network with fellow volunteers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Helpers will be randomly allocated a convenient 1km square to visit. The visit involves recording plant ‘indicator species’ in plots. Within your 1km square you will record around 5 plots in semi-natural habitats.<br /><br />Anyone interested in nature who can identify plants, or who is keen to learn. Different levels of participation ensure that all who are keen can participate: you do not have to be an experienced botanist. You will only need to identify between 25-30 indicator species per habitat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">For more information visit <a href="http://www.npms.org.uk/">www.npms.org.uk.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Caption: </span><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wild_orchids_by_the_A350_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1374455.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0f0436;">Wild orchids</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;"><br /></span></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802466109747446426.post-22498151112227414442015-03-06T07:00:00.001+00:002015-03-10T16:45:52.625+00:00Orchid winners and losers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Scientists have discovered that
climate change is having an unexpected impact on Britain’s orchids, with ‘Lady orchids’ taking
advantage of increasingly warmer temperatures at the expense of so-called ‘man
orchids’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl5z944zRnui7w5iNjBaOd_1CQS6CVNn5VcNYj9OAu69EXi0LV1RzHwsErpjnr_dwn3Mgnzildk6jKZXl6XcV50z1kqJGxeiUgil-ILTbhbwsSCl3JR_AMPSBQMB6mn4uw6u0_thAq2c/s1600/Himantoglossum_hircinum_close-up_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl5z944zRnui7w5iNjBaOd_1CQS6CVNn5VcNYj9OAu69EXi0LV1RzHwsErpjnr_dwn3Mgnzildk6jKZXl6XcV50z1kqJGxeiUgil-ILTbhbwsSCl3JR_AMPSBQMB6mn4uw6u0_thAq2c/s1600/Himantoglossum_hircinum_close-up_001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Kew Gardens experts have noted that
certain species are spreading north, while others which prefer colder or damper
climes are likely to become a rarer sight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Lizard orchids (Himantoglossum
hircinum) and lady orchids (Orchis purpurea) are thriving, while more northern
species, such as bog orchid (Hammarbya paludosa), coralroot (Corallorhiza
trifid) and the small white orchid (Pseudorchis albida) are struggling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f0436;">Worryingly, there has been a sharp
decline of the man orchid (Orchis anthropophora), frog orchid (Dactylorhiza
viridis) and fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWCuiGyo88-YDOcm5iDI9ecf3uyp8ZZnrbu2_cIVu_yA7algXfJmdnyXsypXrIdoAc57ieeT6CDUWIqHfBEzlI3Of0hqYs3T1-Bu004RqOuzaGtUiMm6R2U8zqSax_eFzzvYlYM__bGM/s1600/Hammarbya_paludosa_Belgien_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWCuiGyo88-YDOcm5iDI9ecf3uyp8ZZnrbu2_cIVu_yA7algXfJmdnyXsypXrIdoAc57ieeT6CDUWIqHfBEzlI3Of0hqYs3T1-Bu004RqOuzaGtUiMm6R2U8zqSax_eFzzvYlYM__bGM/s1600/Hammarbya_paludosa_Belgien_05.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0f0436;">The already critically
endangered red helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) faces extinction, according to
the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/climatechange/11441790/Man-orchid-wilts-in-the-heat-of-climate-change-while-the-ladies-thrive.html" target="_blank">report</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Captions:<br />
Winner: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Himantoglossum_hircinum_close-up_001.jpg" target="_blank">Lizard orchid</a><br />
Loser: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hammarbya_paludosa_Belgien_05.jpg" target="_blank">Bog orchid</a></div>
Pam Kelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164918633185119681noreply@blogger.com0