Anacamptis coriophora subsp . fragrans. Anteriorchis coriophora . Orchis parfumé. Bug orchid. (Pollini) Floraison 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Where to find it ? Clic on the map and connect to Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées If Anacamptis coriophora (the Bug Orchid) is both robust and malodorous, Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans (the Fragrant Orchid) is noticeably more delicate and has a suave yet discreet scent. The flowers are small and close to the spike, attractively coloured and speckled. The plant most often reaches about twenty centimetres in height. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys apifera. Ophrys abeille. Bee orchid (Hudson) Ophrys apifera : A discreet orchid but not rare in France. Its small size (between 10 and 30 cm) hides it in the sometimes tall grass but it also happens to find stems of more than 50 cm. It is one of the last Ophrys to flower (May to June). The design on the labellum can vary but the short and compact shape prevents confusion with other ophrys. The 3 sepals are generally more or less dark pink, and can also tend towards white. The dorsal sepal is often very far back. The two lateral petals are very atrophied and hairy: this is an important element for identification. The gibbosities are hairy. The species can self-fertilize which contributes to its "clonic" spread from a single individual. Eucera (bees) can also pollinate flowers and sometimes help create hybrids. We can find atypical individuals which according to their recurrence of form or coloration have a variety name (trollii, friburgensis...). This species is a treat for lovers of lusus or varieties. It is found in almost all French departments on calcareous soils and in full light, in semi-shaded orchards, rarely above 1000 m altitude. It invites itself into some private lawns as long as seeds arrive spontaneously and it is allowed to grow between April and June without mowing it inadvertently... Click on the photos to enlarge

Anacamptis papilionacea. Orchis papillon. Pink butterfly orchid. Where to find it ? Clic on the map and connect to Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées The Butterfly Orchid is a large orchid that generally lives in colonies around the Mediterranean. Confusion with other species is almost impossible. The leaves are short, sheathing and not spotted. Petals and sepals are finely veined. The serrated labellum is more or less curved. It can be narrow and plain to very wide and finely striated: we are then on the spectacular "Grandiflora" variety. Its color is generally lighter than the other floral parts. Click on the photos to enlarge

Sélection de livres et de guides d'orchidées de france et d'europe Selection of books and guides on orchids from France and Europe. Below you will find a selection of books and guides related to orchids. For each book, the main data are mentioned as well as the availability (without guarantee) from booksellers or from the publisher. The books presented are recent and can be easily found new or used. Only the links to the publisher are activated when the book is still available on its site. Orchid guides France Orchid guides France regions Orchid Guides Europe Orchid guides Europe countries Complementary orchid books Artistic Orchid Books France guides Orchids from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. (Collective of authors under the aegis of the French Orchid Society) Biotope Editions . 500 pages. 17x24 format and weight not very compatible (1500 g) as a field guide. Published 2005, second edition. Publisher price €45. Ean code 9782914817110 The best book on French Orchids: presents each species with the identification keys. The iconographic base remains summary (2 to 3 views) and will be the only notable flaw of this guide. The introductory part of almost 150 pages is without a doubt the best documented of the current guides and is almost worth buying the book on its own. A distribution map by department and criterion/color (Common, localized, rare, disappeared, absent) will prove very useful for directing your research. Random distribution, publisher break. Available on the FFO website. New version coming in 2025... in principle. Guide to orchids in France, Switzerland and the Benelux. (Pierre Delforge) Editions Delachaux and Niestlé . 350 pages. 13x20 format, almost practical as a field guide. Weight 800 g. Published in 2021, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Publisher price €29.90. Ean code 9782603027820 An introductory part of about thirty pages. A few identification keys embellish this book which suffers from insufficient iconography (2 views per species most often). The descriptive part, although very useful, could be more complete if the author limited the supporting elements of nomenclature or taxonomy which are otherwise subjects of discord with regard to him and which sometimes take up too much of the pagination. The distribution maps are intended to be very precise but the scale proposed does not allow to locate a place sought on these maps and even less to validate the certain, probable or uncertain presence of a species via its geographical presence. This apparent precision is therefore not of great help for the determination of a taxon. Its size and weight (800 g all the same...) allow you to take it with you, but taking it out of your bag to identify an orchid in the field seems time-consuming and often doomed to failure. It is better to photograph as much as possible the orchid encountered (entire plant, flower from several angles) and look at all this calmly on your return. Failure to respect the current (official) nomenclature could waste the neophyte's time. The strong points lie in the quality of the descriptions and, even with the reservations expressed, the considerable scientific background of the work. Available Petits formats et petits prix mais vont dans la poche ou le sac à dos ! Guide to common orchids of France by F Jouandoudet (Editions Sud-ouest) 60 p. 35 species, so probably not enough, but it can be a start. Description and cartography are nevertheless strong points of this mini guide that you can easily take with you. Random availability out of stock publisher. Guide to the orchids of France . Find and recognize them. (Editions Sud-ouest). 116 p. €8.50. Same author and same publisher for a more erudite book: 57 species described, still presence maps and a proposal of 32 botanical itineraries. To be preferred to the previous one given the low price. Random availability out of stock publisher. Wild orchids (Editions Debaisieux) 132 p. 14 €. EAN code 9782913381841. 70 species described and illustrated with one to three photos. Cartography. Format and weight compatible to take on a walk. Do not trust the stickers (In Aveyron, or Tarn etc..., it is always the same work). Random availability through local distributors (newsagents, supermarkets). Guide to orchids in France by F Dusak, P Lebas, P Pernot ( Editions Belin ) 224 p. Format 11x21. €16.95. Ean code 9782701146812. An almost exhaustive review of native orchids. The perfect guide to get started and take on a walk. Descriptions, flowering dates, identification tips and distribution maps or, failing that, indication of the regions of presence. Available. Reissued work with new cover Les ouvrages coup de coeur ! Guide to wild orchids of France . Life size. (Rémy Souche) Editions Les créations du Pélican/Vilo. 340 pages. Format 23x31. Paperback. Published in 2004. Publisher price €47. EAN code 9782719106426. This is probably not the best organized book for species identification (entries in the book are by the French vernacular name) but everything is there nevertheless and sometimes in large format: descriptions, quite numerous photos, presence by region thanks to maps. It can also be criticized for not respecting the nomenclature for certain species. Rémy Souche is sometimes more passionate than scientific, but as an erudite botanist, he gives us a superb work full of information, particularly on the history of ancient orchidology. Hard to find new but available second-hand. Up Les guides France régionaux Discovering the wild orchids of Rhône-Alpes . 2nd edition Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. Format 17x24. EAN code: 9782366622003 Biotope Editions A book that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, distribution maps and even discovery routes via a separate booklet. The only criticism that can be made concerns the iconography which is a little limited to 2 or 3 views per species. Available. Discovering Orchids in Languedoc and Catalan country. Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. 370 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782366622225 Biotope Editions A work that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, identification keys, distribution maps and even 22 discovery routes. The only criticism that one can make concerns the iconography a little limited to 2 or 3 views per species. Available. Discovering the Orchids of Alsace and Lorraine. Collective of authors. Paperback. €30. 380 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782366621716 Biotope Editions A book that combines all the qualities that one can expect: description of species, identification keys, distribution maps and even 18 discovery routes. The number of species presented being less numerous than in the other regional guides at Biotope, a larger place is devoted to iconography. Available. Wild orchids of Ile de France. François Dusak and Pascal Pernot. Paperback. €30. 210 pages, 17x24 format. EAN code: 9782951037946 Biotope Editions The Ile de France is probably not the most prolific region in France in terms of orchid species, but one is surprised when reading the book to note that despite the galloping urbanization, pockets of nature shelter many unexpected species. The scientific part is pleasantly developed and the species are presented with a description, distribution map and 3 to 4 views per taxon. Not available in bookstores but available at the FFO boutique Up Guides to European orchids Discovery guide to European & Mediterranean Orchids (Kuhn R, Pedersen H & Cribb Ph) Editions Biotope . 430 pages. Paperback. EAN code: 9782366622461. 16x24 format and weight not very compatible (1100 g) for a field guide. Publication 1st half of 2020 in French version, original version 2019. NB: New edition in English 2024 by another publisher. Publisher price €39. Ean code 9782366622461 Superb work by a collective of authors. The edition presents 300 species with 2000 illustrations, which makes it the reference work currently for visual identifications. The respect of the nomenclature currently in force makes it a solid basis for naming correctly each species. Since all French species are represented, it can also be used for the national orchid flora. The introductory part and generalities on orchids (30 pages) will however be insufficient for a complete knowledge of this floral family. The cards distribution taking into account the scale treated remain summary but can prove useful. The ultra-optimized layout does not make it a pleasant work at first but its qualities are in the informative richness. Available Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Near East . (Delforge P) Editions Delachaux et Niestlé . 540 pages. 14.5x20 format and very limited weight (1100 g) for a field guide. Published in 2016, 4th revised and expanded edition. Publisher's price €39 Ean code 9782603024072 Long a reference work due to its exhaustiveness on species: more than 600! The author unfortunately adopts certain personal biases by multiplying their number precisely, which will not make the task easy for neophytes. Last downside since the iconographic base is only 2 to 3 views per species. The introductory part of less than 30 pages will only give bases for the knowledge of orchids but keys of determination inside the edition will usefully complete this first part. No distribution maps but only the indication of the country, which turns out to be clearly insufficient: the presence by country of a species will be of little use to help with the determination. Available. Orchidées d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du moyen-orient. (Carel Kreutz) En anglais 1200 pages. Format 18x25. Poids 3 kg. Parution 2024 . Auto-édition. Px éditeur 50 € Code ean 9789083141121 Cet ouvrage recense pas moins de 950 espèces et 125 variétés ! Belle mise en page avec une présentation claire et aérée et une iconographie de qualité comme pour les autres ouvrages de Kreutz. On trouvera les informations descriptives, de présence géographique, de période de floraison ou d'altitude. Les taxons apparaissent au rang d'espèce uniquement, les sous-espèces sont élevées au rang supérieur. En marge est précisé le rattachement de l'espèce à son groupe (ex O forestieri dans le groupe Fuscae) Au chapitre des points négatifs, il faudra noter l'absence de cartes de présence (mais les informations pays sont fournies) et l'index de fin d'ouvrage très sommaire : uniquement basé sur les noms scientifiques, le tri se fait en fonction d'une nouvelle nomenclature avec des genres qui ne font pas toujours l'unanimité au sein de la communauté orchidophile (Odontorchis, herorchis, vermeulenia...). Il faut donc savoir préalablement à quel genre appartient l'espèce pour y accéder dans l'index des 1080 taxons. Disponible à la boutique des éditions Biotope ou sur Amazon. Up Orchids of Europe by country. Orchid of Italy. Guide to spontaneous orchids. Third edition. In Italian Collective of authors under the aegis of Giros (Gruppo italiano per la ricerca sulle Orchidee Spontanee) Publisher Ilcastelloeditore. €35. Paperback. Format 17x24. 480 pages. EAN code: 9788827604472 267 taxa presented after a reduced introduction compared to the previous edition. The book presents above all the species with a distribution map, the flowering periods, the description of use and according to the species, from 2 to 10 photos. Available locally or on Amazon.it Atlas of the Greek orchids. 2 volumes. in English Spyros Tsiftsis. Zissis Antonopoulos. Mediterraneo editions . €140. Hardcover. 1000 pages. 15x21 format. 2 complete works, superbly done on the orchids of Greece. The descriptions are basic but the iconography is rich. There are distribution maps as well as flowering periods. The price is high and it is still better to order it from the publisher but there are few works of this quality on the whole of the Greek islands. Available. Up Additional works to find out more. Orchids of Europe. Flowers and pollination. Accessible scientific work and wealth of knowledge on orchid pollination and floral parts. The genres are discussed without detailing each species, so it will not be a tool for identifying or having a complete overview of the species. The book is full of photos and sketches as well as statistical tables on pollinators in particular. Maybe not essential but fascinating nonetheless. 450 pages. Hardcover, 24x30 format. Biotope Editions . 65 € EAN code: 9782366621778 Available Atlas of orchids of France. An almost essential complement to the Guide to Orchids of France published by Biotope above, you will find this book from the same publisher, which maps out fairly precisely on a map of France the possible meeting places of our national orchids: description of the biotopes for each species and presence maps. 400 pages. Hardcover, 21x30 format. Editions Biotope . €40 (€20 from the publisher) EAN code: 9782914817622 Available. Italian Ophrys. Rémy Souche, Rolando Romolini and watercolors by Lorenzo Dotti. Self-published 2012. €65 + €15 postage. 580 pages. 23x23 format. Hardcover. Ean code 9782918075028. The book is bilingual French/Italian. A richly illustrated panorama with numerous views by species allows to grasp all the richness of Italian Ophrys. The introduction is as always with R Souche (and R Romolini) erudite with numerous historical entries. Some plates reproducing watercolors by Lorenzo Dotti give another point of view on orchids. Magnificent! Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Ophrys of France. (and Catalonia) Rémy Souche. Watercolors by Marianne Fabre. Self-published 2021. €65 + €15 postage. 600 pages. 23x23 format. Hardcover. Ean code 9782918075042. Another reference for the knowledge of orchids of the Mediterranean basin. The book begins with a broad and erudite historical introduction and presents the species of French Ophrys with numerous photographic illustrations. You will also find superb watercolors by the Aveyron artist Marianne Fabre. Well presented, complete, a reference work! Please note that a booklet of 74 reproductions of watercolors is also available. EAN code 9782918075059 at the price of €75 + €10 postage. 23x23 format. Printed on tintoretto support (250 gr structured paper to highlight the works). Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Ophrys hybrids from the western Mediterranean basin. Remy Souche Self-published 2008. 290 pages. Paperback. Format 17x23. Price €33.50 postage included. The book is the most complete and dedicated to Ophrys hybrids and contrary to what its name indicates goes beyond the Mediterranean rim without claiming to be exhaustive of course. 1 photo per hybrid but these being unique, impossible to embrace everything. The guide begins with a "wall" of images that allows for quick identification of the hybrids that are discussed further inside the book. Well done on the author's part, his other books use the same handy trick! Available on the FFO website. Available from the author Rémy Souche, ophrysdefrance@orange.fr 7 Route des Cévennes 34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres 06 20 30 35 27 Up Works with an artistic vocation. Wild orchids of Europe. Bo Mossberg. Henrik Pedersen Artemis editions . €35. 2017 edition. 28x22 format. If you are nostalgic for old illustrations based on drawings and watercolors, you will surely like this book. Before photography, there were talented illustrators who knew how to synthesize all the richness of plants in a single watercolor while it sometimes takes several photos to describe orchids stem, leaves and flowers at the same time. Bo Mossberg, a contemporary illustrator, with his art, knows how to alternate general views and close-ups in order to help us discern the essence of each species (200 in total). This is not a field book because of its 22x28 format but consulting it quietly at home and finding your own discoveries through all these illustrations will make you spend wonderful moments. H Pedersen's descriptions are no less talented and instructive. Available. Wild orchids from our regions. Flammarion. Hardcover. EAN code: 9782081253353 Photographer and botanist, Laurent Bessol presents a hundred French orchids. Many close-ups will allow you to identify your own discoveries even if this is not the primary purpose of this book in the generous 25x32 format. The orchids are presented in order of flowering and the many photos are accompanied by short but informative texts. Hard to find new but available second-hand. Up

Cephalanthera rubra. Cephalanthère rouge. Red helleborine. Cephalantheres are generally light undergrowth orchids. The flowers open little except for the Rubra species presented here. It is described as red but is clearly closer to pink. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neottia nidus-avis. Neottie nid d'oiseau. Bird's nest orchid. Orchid rather easy to find in the eastern part of the territory but rarer in the west. This plant does not like light and is most often found on the edges of undergrowth or on shaded slopes. Its name comes from its fine, tangled roots. It is said to be a parasite but it draws its subsistence from fungi and therefore from an underground association. As it has an air of resemblance to the orobanches which are themselves parasitic plants, the confusion persists. Sometimes solitary, often in duo and sometimes in larger colonies, the orchid flowers in May, June and until July at altitude (up to 2000 meters). Click on the photos to enlarge

Présentation et démarche du site internet Orchidée-photo.com Approach Space dedicated to enthusiasts of wild orchids in France: The texts and photos on this site do not claim to be scientific or artistic but aim to help better understand the nature around us, which we often know little about. All photos are taken by the author of these lines, and engravings are borrowed from old, public domain works. The photos can be viewed, and I can provide free files upon request if you indicate their intended use. The first tabs showcase orchids found in France, but they are not endemic and can also be found in other European countries. Some of the illustrative photos come from other countries (Italy, Switzerland, etc.). A final tab presents orchids encountered only outside of France. If you have arrived at this space, you are probably aware that our countryside (and sometimes our cities) host wild orchids. Often so discreet that one can pass by them without noticing, the discovery of a single individual can leave us puzzled when trying to identify the species. It is better to find a colony (a group of several individuals) to confirm an identification. In France, many orchid species grow to 10 to 15 cm in height, with flowers smaller than a centimeter, making them easy to overlook. We simply admire them, sometimes photograph them, but never pick them, as most are rare and fragile. Flowers in vases or herbariums are outdated! And if they happen to appear in our gardens, it will be on their initiative. There's no point in attempting transplantation; it will fail in nearly all cases. For an orchid to grow and thrive, it requires a specific combination of terrain, light, and humidity. Above all, the familiar pollinating insects of the species must be present. These conditions are rare... and almost never where we would like them to be. To know them, to name them, is also to love them. I hope to share my passion with you or exchange with you because your passion is just as valuable as mine! A contact form is available. The views are introduced with a short text about the species, its biotope, and a few distinguishing features for identification. This is not intended to replace more detailed guides, but in these books, the iconographic base is often limited to one or two images, which only partially match your observations. The great variability of orchids cannot be summarized with so few photos, and I have often found myself frustrated with this "scarcity." The goal here is to illustrate each species with a broad photographic base, representing both the typical species and many variants. Please do not hesitate to point out any errors regarding the illustrations or the species they belong to, or any other necessary corrections. Identifying orchids is not a competition to check off the greatest number of species. You may sometimes meet enthusiasts who swear they have seen all the species that are still left for you to discover or confidently claim that certain species, reputed to be rare, are actually common. Let this not discourage you in your quest, and remain humble in front of a tricky species: it is often a variety of the most common species or a dilemma that will not have an absolutely certain solution. Around 70 orchid species will be presented, as well as a few subspecies commonly encountered: almost all of the most common ones. Of the approximately 160 species (species + subspecies) in our territory, this will represent the majority or all of the discoveries you could make during a few regional walks or over a season. The other species are either rare to very rare, some regional and highly localized (and some are still absent from my inventory, which certainly gets richer every year but remains partial due to the need to visit many regions). For others, they will be impossible to identify without the help of specialists. You may encounter helpful people in the field or through online contacts, but for identification assistance, some individuals who are very vocal about their numerous or exceptional discoveries will strangely remain silent about yours. The descriptions are basic but, I hope, understandable and sufficient. I have stuck to simple language to be accessible without a glossary, even at the risk of lacking scientific rigor, which some may criticize: this is intentional. Orchids love to deceive, so don't be surprised if you occasionally encounter one outside its normal biotope, in a region where it is not supposed to thrive, growing at an unrecorded altitude, or blooming outside its usual flowering period!

Anacamptis laxiflora. Orchis à fleurs lâches. Loose-flowered orchid. Where to find it ? Clic on the map and connect to Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées The flower stalk is not very dense, hence its name, but this is a characteristic shared by other Anacamptis. The flowers range from light to dark pink. The plant is medium to tall and grows in humid environments (at least part of the year - in 2022, a very dry year, the Hérault station that I frequent did not experience any flowering). The density of the plants is very variable and sometimes the concentrations are significant. They grow in full sun or in slightly shaded environments. Its presence is attested over a large part of the territory but the populations can be low. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neotinea ustulata. Orchis brûlé. Burnt orchid. (L.) A beautiful little orchid whose labellum shape vaguely resembles the Purple Orchid (Orchis purpurea ) from a distance. But upon closer observation, the differences quickly become apparent. The plant measures between 10 and 30 cm and bears a variable inflorescence of tiny helmet-shaped flowers (sepals and petals join together to form a hood over the labellum). The labellum is white, speckled with small purple dots, while the hood is purple, varying in intensity. This orchid can be found across much of the country, except in northern France, and flowers from May to early July, depending on region and altitude (up to 2000 m). It can be abundant or rare depending on the biotope, and quickly disappears if the surrounding vegetation becomes too dense, as it prefers short-grass meadows. There is a subspecies or variety (Neotinea ustulata var. aestivalis ) that flowers in July, mainly in the Alps, and is said to be taller, with a more developed flowering spike. It's not easy to determine whether this is truly a distinct variety or simply a late flowering form of the type species, as there are no known sites where both types bloom at different times. Having observed plants in bloom in July in Savoie (where N. ustulata usually flowers in May in other French departments), I still cannot tell them apart! Morphologically, there is no obvious difference — even though N. ustulata var. aestivalis is sometimes described as “taller,” one can find equally tall individuals of the type species elsewhere. The mountain climate and altitude may also explain the later blooming time. However, in the Essonne region, N. ustulata can be observed in May, and the species or its variety aestivalis blooms in nearby Seine-et-Marne (just 25 km away) from mid-June — with a time gap of nearly six weeks, despite nearly identical climate and altitude. This would seem to support the reality of a variety with a delayed flowering period. The flowers of the aestivalis variety also appear slightly more robust. Notably, its blooming is highly irregular from year to year (a ratio of 1 in 10 at least), which is not the case for N. ustulata , which flowers abundantly and consistently in May. Late spring weather events may explain this irregularity. Still, this is the only population known in the area and is highly localized. Does a temporally shifted flowering in such a micro-population justify naming it a separate variety ? Click on the photos to enlarge

BIOGRAPHY Presentation Amateur photographer since adolescence and passionate about natural sciences even if I did not make it my job, I discovered wild orchids about ten years ago by chance. I am lucky to live in the south of Essonne and not far from the forest of Fontainebleau. Between Etampes and Fontainebleau, the wastelands and limestone lawns, which are very frequent, are home to many orchids: Orchis, Ophrys, Epipactis...but you quickly feel cramped and the passion sometimes becomes an endless quest for new species, 'Hybrids, from Lusus. So I quickly extended my surveys to my native region: the Côte d'Or and the neighboring Jura. Then the Alps and La Vanoise to take advantage of the staggered flowering of certain species at altitude. At the beginning of spring, Aude and Aveyron... How and... why stop? Not being monomaniacal for all that, I also photograph other flowers, the insects that visit them. Good visit to all and do not hesitate to comment! Contact me Email: pascal.decologne@laposte.net Send Thank you for what you sent !

Découvrez Orchis mascula, l'Orchis mâle. Orchidée sauvage. Orchis spitzelii. Orchis de Spitzel. Spitzel's orchid. (Sauter ex W.D.J. Koch) The Spitzel's Orchid, related to the Male Orchid, is distinguished by its generally smaller size, pronounced spotting on the lip, and the often greenish interiors of the sepals. This species is also found in woodlands, typically at moderate altitudes. Click on the photos to enlarge