Résultats de recherche

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...

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

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

Herbaria and Old Illustrations: Before photography and why not today as an alternative, illustrations are the first tools of naturalists. You will find after my own photographs some old illustrations from the 16th century to the first half of the 20th century. Among the oldest representations, it will sometimes be very complicated to recognize in these naive and approximate drawings for some, our orchids as we know them. It is unfortunately just as complicated to search in herbariums for a way to identify our discoveries. Among the significant works or the most representative illustrators of European terrestrial orchids, we can cite: - Franz Bauer (1758-1840). Austrian but worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew Garden. - Illustrated flora of Nice and the Maritime Alps (1868) by Jean Baptiste Barla (1817-1896). - Iconography of orchids of Europe and the Mediterranean basin (1929) by Edmond Camus (1852-1915). - Claus Caspari (1911-1980), German illustrator. - Jacobus Landwehr (1911-1996): Dutch author and illustrator of the 2-volume work Orchids of Europe (1977). - Eliza Klopfenstein (1921-2018): Belgian illustrator. Créer ses propres illustrations Quand on ne possède pas de talent pour le dessin ou la peinture, il existe des moyens modernes d'illustrer ses publications malgré tout. Dans quel intérêt ? L'illustration remplace avantageusement la photo lorsqu'elle permet de présenter une plante sous différents angles en créant un "bouquet" ou en présentant les différentes fleurs sur la tige avec un angle qui varie. Un illustrateur doué va synthétiser toutes les caractéristiques de l'espèce parfois avec une seule vue là ou le photographe aura besoin de nombreuses vues parfois. Présenter la plante en pied de façon dégagée alors qu'elle pousse dans un environnement chargé est aussi un plus pour l'identification. Il est aussi aisé de remplacer sur l'illustration des fleurs défraichies par une succession de fleurs toutes à leur optimum ! De nombreux softs existent depuis quelques années mais les résultats très formatés se contentent d'appliquer un effet sur votre photo avec un rendu parfois discutable. Les logiciels de création graphique se revendiquant de posséder une IA sont clairement les solutions d'avenir car ils recréent une vue en fonction d'un style que vous définissez : fournissez une vue avec le style souhaité puis votre photo à convertir et vous obtiendrez un résultat convaincant. Les meilleurs sont généralement payants, dans les versions gratuites attendez vous à des limitations : de temps, de nombre de vues possibles notamment mais heureusement le résultat est normalement identique en payant ou en gratuit. Vous trouverez à côté et plus bas quelques exemples réalisés avec un prompt (instructions pour l'IA) assez basique.

Himantoglossum robertianum. Orchis géant. Giant orchid. (Loiseleur) The orchid is Mediterranean but tends to extend its territory towards the North and the West. It requires both climatic conditions for an orchid to progress territorially but also pollinators. There is speculation about its expansion: seeds carried by the winds, birds, vehicle wheels... It is even reported now in the Netherlands! Easy to identify because of its color and sometimes its imposing size (but often of modest size: about 15/30 cm), you will sometimes see it at the side of the road on the embankments. It gives off a delicate smell of lily or hyacinth (in my opinion...). Its seasonality is also strange because for almost all orchids, flowering moves from the South to the North over the weeks of spring, but we find it flowering from the month of February in certain stations in France and still in April in some of the Mediterranean islands further south! We can even find Himantoglossum hircinum and Himantoglossum robertianum , both in flower on 15/04, on the Villefranche sur Saône motorway service area, north of Lyon. (Personal observation). Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez Pseudorchis albida Orchis miel sur Orchidée-photo.com Chamorchis alpina. Orchis nain des Alpes. Alpine dwarf orchid. A rare mountain orchid, often measuring less than 10 cm in height. Invisible among more or less dense vegetation due to its greenish coloration, it can also be found on hummocks (clumps of vegetation) in the middle of mountain streams. It blooms in July. Click on the photos to enlarge

Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Orchis de Fuchs. Common spotted orchid. Some Dactylorhiza will be difficult to identify because each species varies and hybrids are common. In some regions, these hybrids are more numerous than the type species. Observing Dactylorhiza is proof 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 fuchsii is a plant that likes many environments, dry or humid but rather on calcareous soil. The flowers are quite colorful but we will not trust the very variable designs, rather the cutting of the cut labellum which forms a pronounced point. Click on the photos to enlarge

Serapias parviflora. Serapias à petites fleurs. Small flowers tongue orchid. In the Serapias family, it is the smallest. Not by the size of the stem but by the smallness of the flowers. The floral stem therefore remains very slender. Mainly Mediterranean, but also from the Atlantic coast to Brittany. Size from 10 to 30 cm. Click on the photos to enlarge

Platanthera chlorantha. Platanthère verte. Greater butterfly orchid. Rather widespread outside of a few departments, this orchid can be found from sea level up to 2000 meters. It grows in open meadows and in shaded areas from the end of April until July for high altitude stations. In metropolitan France, we also find Platanthera bifolia. Differentiating the two is not easy from a morphological point of view: from 20 to 60 cm, the same shades and similar leaves. It will therefore be necessary to approach it closely and observe the inside of the flower. The anthers are distant and trapezoidal in shape for chlorantha and tight and parallel for bifolia. The first views of these two species will therefore illustrate this point. Click on the photos to enlarge

Cypripedium calceolus. Sabot de Venus. Lady's slipper. Où la rencontrer ? Cliquer sur la carte et aller sur Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées The emblematic orchid of French flora! Recognizable among all orchids and emblematic of the difficulty these flowers have in living in our landscapes crisscrossed by tourists and Sunday walkers. Formerly very abundant, Lady's Slipper have been picked more than reason to the point of almost disappearing. Their habitat is also threatened due to pastoral abandonment and the overgrowth of their biotope. In the north of the Côte d'Or, a cold climate allows them to perpetuate themselves because otherwise, the species is rather mountainous or northern. The little story says that the species would have been introduced there by monks then would have "escaped" into the neighboring forests. Generally, the foot supports a single flower but sometimes 2. Once fertilized, the flower fades quite quickly and its flowering is only observable for a short period around June 1 and until June 15 in the mountains. Click on the photos to enlarge