Epipactis helleborine. Epipactis à larges feuilles. Broad-leaved helleborine. Epipactis helleborine is the most common species in the genus in France. Generally large, its dimensions vary however between 20 cm and 1 meter. At the foot, there is a group of dense and large leaves. This is one of the main characteristics of the species. They can be alternate and dystic or without any particular arrangement and arranged regularly around the foot. The flowers are most often colored with variations depending on the floral parts (petals, labellum). However, we will find some individuals of an almost uniform color and varying from beige to pale green. In Epipactis, the labellum is divided into two parts: the hypochile, concave, contains more or less nectar, which gives it a shiny appearance, and the epichile, often pointed, sometimes folded, with a complex appearance, rarely smooth and covered with bumps, hollows or furrows that allow insects to cling while they draw nectar. Petals and sepals are generally of the same color, more or less greenish. The pollinia, once stuck on the head of the insect, slowly disintegrate, which allows several flowers to be fertilized. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neotinea maculata. Orchis intact (ou maculé). Dense flowered orchid. Another discreet plant of greenish to beige pastel color with touches of red, purple or brown. It often measures 10/15 cm at most and can reach 30 cm. 2 to 3 leaves at the base and possibly another sheathing one. The inflorescence is dense with small and rather closed flowers. The flowers appear disordered, which is rather rare in orchids. A plant from the Mediterranean region, it is only found in the south of France and on the Atlantic coast (including western Brittany). Click on the photos to enlarge

Epipactis palustris. Epipactis des marais. Marsh helleborine. One of the most beautiful orchids in France due to its very "tropical" or exotic appearance. The floral elements of Epipactis are complex and sometimes very colorful. But the flowering of the majority of species is often late (from June to August) and for many species takes place in the undergrowth. They are therefore not very noticeable at this relatively late time. New species are discovered (or named) regularly in Europe. The genus Epipactis is also very widespread in the northern hemisphere. Species hybridize easily within the genus, which will sometimes complicate identification. For Epipactis palustris, confusion is almost impossible: it is found in a humid environment (possibly flooded part of the year), the fairly numerous flowers are generally hanging but open. The labellum is quite long with a beautiful white ending. The pubescent foot measures from 20 to 60 cm with a few more or less sheathing leaves at the base. The species is relatively rare but when the biotope suits it, its dissemination can be rapid and the plants very abundant. This species is naturally visited by very many pollinating insects. In Epipactis, the labellum is divided into two parts: the hypochile, concave, contains more or less nectar, which gives it a shiny appearance, and the epichile, often pointed, sometimes folded, with a complex appearance, rarely smooth and covered with bumps, hollows or furrows that allow insects to cling while they draw nectar. Petals and sepals are generally of the same color, more or less greenish. The pollinia, once stuck on the head of the insect, slowly disintegrate, which allows several flowers to be fertilized. Click on the photos to enlarge

Dactylorhiza incarnata. Orchis incarnat. Early marsh orchid. Some Dactylorhiza will give you a hard time in terms of their identification because each species varies and hybrids are frequent. In some regions, these hybrids would be more numerous than the type species. Observing the Dactylorhiza is the demonstration that once again, some specialists tend to segment and name what are sometimes only varieties. Evolution is certainly underway but it will not happen on the scale of current humanity. Patience! I will therefore only present a few species, those whose identification remains certain. Dactylorhiza incarnata is a plant that can be found on humid and rather alkaline substrates. The flowers are quite colorful but do not trust the very variable patterns. The labellum is narrow, a little folded which gives it an elongated shape. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez Ophrys apifera Ophrys abeille sur Orchidée-photo.com Ophrys provincialis. Ophrys de Provence. Provence bee orchid Medium-sized Ophrys. Moderately flowering plant. It "replaces" Ophrys sphegodes in the southeastern Mediterranean region of France. Sepals and petals are green, sometimes purplish. The basal field is often red, with a variable macular pattern generally bordered in white. Pseudo-eyes surrounded by white. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez les associations orchidophiles actives. French Society of Orchidophilia. French Federation of Orchid Lovers. Founded in 1969 and with 1,500 members and many more in regional associations, the SFO is the benchmark for French associations on the subject. Dealing with the cultivation of tropical orchids but also present for the preservation of French orchids, the association publishes Orchidophile, a quarterly newsletter. Its format has recently expanded to highlight a generous iconography . The subscription is not conditional on membership of the SFO and allows consultation of the archives (a hundred issues already online out of 200). Having completed the digitization of these archives for the association, I think I can say that it is a mine of knowledge on the subject which has little equivalent elsewhere. The French federation of orchid lovers recently joined the SFO in order to unite their resources on common projects. https://sfo-asso.fr/ https://sfo-asso.fr/publications/lorchidophile/ https://ffao-asso.jimdofree.com/ Wild orchid One of the missions of the FFO is to enable orchid populations to be monitored both geographically and temporally. For many years now, Wild Orchis, through a collaboration of volunteers, both in running the site and in collecting data, has enabled this dynamic monitoring. https://www.orchisauvage.fr/index.php

Découvrez Ophrys fuciflora Ophrys frelon sur Orchidée-photo.com Ophrys druentica. Ophrys de la Durance. Durance orchid. (P. Delforge & Viglione) Ophrys druentica was only described in 2006. This shows that it is not one of the absolutely essential species among the taxa related to Ophrys fuciflora. It is difficult to find fundamental differences with the type species. Ophrys × souchei or Ophrys aegertica, which are very similar and also described more recently (in 2012 and 1996 respectively), belong to this group of regional species that do not revolutionize taxonomy, neither through morphology, phenology, nor flowering period. The same goes for micro-populations (<200 individuals) such as those of Ophrys montis-aviarii (and likewise for Ophrys demangei or Ophrys linearis, considered late-flowering to justify their existence, though some orchid enthusiasts are surprised and proud to find them precociously during field trips...!!). Thus, everything overlaps, and even the authors mention possible hybrids... which complicates identification (sic). Are we going mad with Ophrys fuciflora? Kew Garden currently lists Ophrys druentica only as a synonym of Ophrys fuciflora. The species is therefore presented here to report the specimens encountered in the Var under the local name. Almost all of the photographs shown below (May 8 and 9) were taken on a site of 300 to 500 m² and illustrate the diversity of the species within a colony. Often, identifications are made by “sheep-like behavior,” and species are recognized according to the place and date of the shot rather than what they truly are. Swap the photos while declaring another location and date, and no one would detect the trick...

Serapias lingua. Serapias en langue. Tongue orchid. Serapias cannot be confused with any other species of orchid. Identifying them from each other will sometimes be more complex because it is normally necessary to explore their interior. Most species (the most common) are fortunately easily identifiable from their morphological appearance. Doubt will remain when certain species coexist and hybrids may appear. Essentially Mediterranean, some species are found in the southwest quarter and go up to Vendée. Sporadic appearances are observed elsewhere and notably in the Paris region, but the development remains random and these are rarely viable populations due to the lack of pollinating insects. Nevertheless, serapias develop several tubers and can thus, when conditions are favorable, multiply vegetatively, thus constituting small colonies without having been pollinated. Depending on the region, flowering will take place from April to June. Serapias lingua is a species widespread south of a diagonal that goes from Brittany to Nice. Its presence does not of course stop at the French borders. Few flowers on each foot, a dark pink glabrous labellum and a remarkable dark callus. Size from 10 to 30 cm. Click on the photos to enlarge

Gymnadenia rhellicani. Orchis vanille. Nigritella are high altitude orchids only. They can be found in the Massif Central or the Jura for the lowest altitudes but abundantly in the Alps and also in the Pyrenees. Differentiating the species will be a complicated task because even within a station we will find plants with more or less conical or round spikes, more or less elongated. The coloring is generally purple as for many high altitude plants. All species have a more or less pronounced smell of vanilla. It will therefore be necessary to rely on specialized works to find distinctive signs in the shape of the labella and bracts. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys insectifera. Ophrys mouche. Fly orchid Ophrys of Western Europe mainly, the Ophrys insectifera although quite widespread in France will escape quick glances. The flowers are few in number, small and elongated on stems of 15 to 60 cm. Little colored apart from a more or less bright gray band on the labellum. This orchid flowers between mid-April and the end of June up to 1500 meters. As with almost all Ophrys, the shape of the labellum will present varied forms: more or less wide or cut. If we clearly distinguish the 3 green sepals at the back, the two lateral sepals are reduced to the state of thin "antennas" more or less short of the same color as the labellum. A subspecies endemic to Aveyron (Ophrys aymoninii) has a yellow margin. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez Serapias parviflora. serapias à petites fleurs sur Orchidée-photo.com Serapias vomeracea. Serapias à labelle allongé. Long lipped serapias. Serapias is widely spread in the south of France. It is a medium to large plant. The labellum is long and pointed, with colors ranging from light pink to purple. It has significant hairiness. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neottia ovata . Listere à feuilles ovales. Common twayblade. Orchid of undergrowth generally but it will sometimes be found in full light too. The species is common everywhere in France and at all altitudes. Very easy to identify by its inflorescence and its two large oval leaves in opposition. The flowers have green colors, sometimes almost yellowish and can be tinged with purple traces. The shape of the labellum presents important variations in shape but the general appearance remains typical. The plant measures from 10 to 60 cm. The flower stem can sometimes take curved shapes. The secret flower of nectar to attract pollinators. Flowering extends over a wide period from the beginning of May until July depending on the department and altitude. Click on the photos to enlarge