Large colony of rare UK orchid found in Benbecula
This unassuming plant has been creating quite a stir in the world of naturalists and orchid-lovers. A large colony of Spiranthes Romanzoffiana, Irish Ladies Tresses to you and me has been discovered on Benbecula in this stunning location:
The orchids are rare in Britain, found only in tiny pockets on the west coast of Scotland, parts of Ireland and Devon. But almost 600 specimens have been counted by SNH field workers by this loch, raising lots of questions, as the plant has never been known to set seed here.
Now that such a large colony has been discovered, the field workers will be returning to the spot in a couple of weeks to see if they are indeed setting seed. At which point, all good botanists’ hearts will be a flutter. Watch this space.
What a lovely plant,but hopefully,not too many people will find it,as I would be afraid some people may want to dig it up in the hope of it growing in their own gardens. In the “Te Puke”quarry park(botanical gardens),just outside Tuaranga in NZ,there is one area with beautiful rare orchids,sadly,some people have been digging them up,so now the park is closely guarded and you have to pay to enter now,to the pay the costs of having security staff. Sad.
Good point…. fortunately the crofter’s house overlooks the lochs and I’m sure he’d clock anyone up to no good. Also the orchid is super-fussy about its environment so take note potential miscreants, it probably wouldn’t survive a transplant!
fingers crossed::