Britain's Orchids: A Field Guide to the Orchids of Great Britain and Ireland (WILDGuides, 43)

Description

An accessible, comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide―the only one to cover all the orchids found in Britain and Ireland Covering all fifty-one native species and twelve of uncertain origin, as well as hybrids and variants, Britain’s Orchids is an engaging, intuitive and in-depth identification guide to all the orchids of Britain and Ireland at all stages of development, from first emergence to setting seed. Drawing on the authors’ extensive field experience and the latest scientific research, the book uses multiple techniques to help both beginner and more advanced orchid enthusiasts to identify even the most difficult plants. It is beautifully illustrated with watercolour paintings by talented artist Sarah Stribbling, and features more than 1,200 evocative, instructive and detailed photographs. Orchids have long fired the imagination with their beauty and rarity. This book aims to ignite or increase your passion for these special plants, and for the conservation of their varied habitats―from remote mountaintops to urban wild spaces. The first book to cover all the species at all stages of development, as well as all subspecies, varieties and confirmed hybridsLavishly illustrated with 98 beautiful watercolour platesMore than 1,200 stunning photos showing the orchids in their natural settings and highlighting key identification featuresSimple, step-by-step system for identifying almost any orchid you encounterUp-to-date distribution maps and seasonal charts showing when each species can be seen in its various stages of development Sean Cole is a field naturalist who has been studying orchids for more than twenty years, with special interests in identification, taxonomy and pollination. He has published many articles on British orchids, including his specialty, the Ghost Orchid. Mike Waller is an ecologist and botanist who specializes in European orchids. He has worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Natural History Museum in London, the London Wildlife Trust and Plantlife. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements Preface Using this book What is an orchid? Photosynthesis and the relationship with fungi Orchid structure Pollination strategies and seed dispersal Growth strategies and longevity Glossary Orchid taxonomy Habitats Finding orchids Photography and recording When flowering Annual growth cycle Orchids in their habitats Identifying orchids Identifying orchids in leaf Guide to British and Irish orchids in leaf when mature Identifying orchids in bud Identifying orchids in flower THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS (see over) Orchid hybrids Cephalanthera helleborine hybrids Epipactis helleborine hybrids Butterfly-orchid hybrids Fragrant-orchid hybrids Small-white Orchid hybrids Dactylorhiza orchid hybrids Orchis orchid hybrids Ophrys orchid hybrids Extinct and adventive species Threats and conservation List of British and Irish orchids Artwork and photographic credits References Sources of further information Index Cypripedium Lady’s-slipper Cypripedium calceolus Cephalanthera Epipactis and Cephalanthera helleborines compared Cephalanthera helleborines White Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium Sword-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia Red Helleborine Cephalanthera rubra Epipactis Epipactis helleborines New identities Identifying Epipactis Epipactis detailed flower and leaf features for identification CROSS-POLLINATED SPECIES Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris Dark-red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens Violet Helleborine Epipactis purpurata Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine Broad-leaved Helleborine subspecies and variation SELF-POLLINATED SPECIES Narrow-lipped Helleborine Epipactis leptochila Dune Helleborine Epipactis dunensis Dune Helleborine subspecies Green-flowered Helleborine Epipactis phyllanthes Epipactis helleborine flower variation Neottia Common Twayblade Neottia ovata Lesser Twayblade Neottia cordata Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis Epipogium Ghost Orchid Epipogium aphyllum Corallorhiza Coralroot Orchid Corallorhiza trifida Liparis Fen Orchid Liparis loeselii Hammarbya Bog Orchid Hammarbya paludosa Herminium Musk Orchid Herminium monorchis Pseudorchis Small-white Orchid Pseudorchis albida Neotinea Dense-flowered Orchid Neotinea maculata Burnt Orchid Neotinea ustulata Burnt Orchid varieties Lady’s-tresses Goodyera Creeping Lady’s-tresses Goodyera repens Spiranthes Autumn Lady’s-tresses Spiranthes spiralis Irish Lady’s-tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Platanthera Butterfly-orchids Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha Lesser Butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia Gymnadenia Fragrant-orchids Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia conopsea Heath Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia borealis Marsh Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia densiflora Fragrant-orchids compared and variation Dactylorhiza Dactylorhiza orchids Species boundaries and new identities Identifying Dactylorhiza Typical spotted-orchids and marsh-orchids at-a-glance Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis SPOTTED-ORCHIDS Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata Common and Heath Spotted-orchids compared MARSH-ORCHIDS Northern and Southern Marsh-orchids compared Northern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella Southern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata Irish Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza kerryensis Pugsley’s Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides Pugsley’s Marsh-orchid identification and variation Spotted- and marsh-orchid varieties Early Marsh-orchid varieties Himantoglossum Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum Serapias Tongue-orchid Serapias lingua Anacamptis Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio Green-winged and Early-purple Orchid variation Orchis Orchis orchids Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora Monkey Orchid Orchis simia Military Orchid Orchis militaris Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea Lady Orchid variation Ophrys Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera Early Spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera Late Spider-orchid Ophrys fuciflora Ophrys variation