Orchids - 2

The third orchid species to be found in this area (see earlier post, here, for the other two) is the Heath Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza maculata. It has many of the characteristics of the Common Spotted but the shape of the flower is different, the two outer lips of the lowest petal being broad, rounded, sometimes frilled, with a small, v-shaped 'tooth' between.

Heath Spotted flowers vary through pale pink to lilac to white. While they are commonly spotted or patterned, some can be plain, the most noticeable being the pure white specimens.

The Heath Spotted seems to be the most common orchids in this area. It is found along the roadsides in Kilchoan and Ormsaigbeg, in the croft fields, and across much of the lower-lying moorland of West Ardnamurchan - the first orchids we found this year, in early May, were Heath Spotteds, to the south of Grigadale around Lochan Caorach - post here.

The fourth local species is the Fragrant Orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea. The flowers are rich pink, more spread out in the head, and characterised by long 'spurs' - spines behind the flower - and prominent side petals, like wings (see the bottom picture in this post for a close-up). They are also, as the name suggests, fragrant: if you see someone with their nose in the grass and their bottom in the air, they're probably enjoying the delicate scent of a Fragrant Orchid.

The problem for laymen such as The Diary is that these orchids readily hybridise, so there appears to be a complete spectrum across the species. For example, plants with the the most impressive magenta columns are often Northern-Common crosses.

While the species are supposed to favour slightly different conditions, there is no discernable pattern around here. The plants occur in groups, often widely separated, so one hillside may have nothing but Northern Marsh, while another half a mile away is crowded with Heath Spotted. The main, controlling factors seem to be cover, sheep, cutting and height. Few orchids survive under a thick over-cover such as bracken or heather, though some are to be found along the edges of bracken stands where there is some light. They do not appear in fields intensively grazed by sheep, nor where mowing takes place, nor high on the hills. Their favourite places are old farmland which is slightly damp, with short, uncropped grass and no cover; they seem to survive well on very thin soil.

Orchids, like all wildflowers, are protected, so they should not be disturbed. Unfortunately for those of us who would love to have them in the garden, they are very difficult to propagate. Although each plant can produce many seeds, these have insufficient nutrients to survive: each seed must develop a symbiotic relationship with a fungus which provides the food they need.

The excellent site, West Highland Flora, here, lists no less than twenty local orchid species. Perhaps, by the end of next June's flowering, The Diary will have found some more.