Ophrys scolopax. Ophrys bécasse. Woodcock orchid. The Ophrys bécasse is an orchid quite widespread in the south of France. Very colorful, of medium size and fond of calcareous soils, it can be recognized by its elongated and trilobed labellum (well detached humps on the sides). The petals of the same color as the sepals are thin. An appendage often folded into a tip of the labellum will complete the description. Note, however, very variable designs on the labellum, which will explain the numerous illustrative views for this species. There are strong variations in the ratio between the length of the labellum and the span of the sepals, giving either the effect of a compact flower or, conversely, the impression of a very small labellum lost in the middle of large sepals. In the same group, we will find in the literature Ophrys picta and Ophrys corbariensis which will be almost impossible to differentiate from Ophrys scolopax . The discriminating elements using size or flowering date are not of much help when we know the great variability of Ophrys. Should we have made them different species? The official nomenclature currently grants them the rank of subspecies or simple synonym. Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys sphegodes/aranifera. Ophrys araignée. Early spider orchid An orchid that is not very visible like most Ophrys whose flowers are not very colorful. Measuring between 10 and 40 cm and growing on calcareous soils: wastelands, verges. The design on the labellum is very variable and the normally green sepals and petals can be slightly colored yellow or pink. The labellum is rather elongated and the appendage is barely visible because it is curved backwards. The basal field is concolorous to the labellum but often lighter. The macular pattern is H-shaped, more or less blended into the entire macule. This H is sometimes very clearly edged with white. The pseudo-eyes are quite large and bright. There is a thin yellow margin around the labellum but often barely visible because of its convexity. Gibbosities are sometimes visible but not very marked and not at all or weakly pointed. It is found in many French departments but mainly in the west of the country and not at high altitudes. Other close species take its place in other departments where it would be rarer. One can legitimately wonder if so many species are not duplicates, the differences are sometimes subtle especially if we consider that the variations exist elsewhere within a population of the same station. All these species were named at a time when communication between scientists was not as developed and it seems difficult even today to find a consensus. At the same time as the author writes this, he is pilloried by a certain number of regional observers who could read these lines and who will refuse to admit that their local "species" does not have its identity or is just a synonym. Its name is still debated and we seem to agree on Ophrys sphegodes but we will find many documents or works with Ophrys aranifera. It is a relatively early orchid and can be observed between March and May. 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

Ophrys lupercalis. Ophrys des lupercales. Dark bee orchid. Ophrys from the south and south west of France, this Ophrys poses little problem of identification. It is part of Pseudophrys like Ophrys lutea. The labellum is relatively elongated, furrowed more or less deeply in its central part, devoid of humps. What is not visible lies in its pollination by specific insects (Hymenoptera generally) which position themselves with their abdomen turned towards the reproductive organs, which is the opposite of other Ophrys. Despite this peculiarity, hybrids are possible with Ophrys. The determination of the species could turn out to be complex because the authors do not agree sometimes regrouping certain taxa sometimes multiplying the species. You will therefore sometimes find a single species Ophrys fusca (Ophrys brown) with synonym Ophrys sulcata, or the 2 very distinct species. I have therefore attempted here to present views respecting the most striking distinctive elements of determination. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrir Sites web orchidées de France et d'Europe. Discover orchids on the internet Discover the orchids of France and Europe through a selection of remarkable sites. Subscribe to the L'Orchidophile magazine from FFO (Fédération France Orchidées) available in paper version and all archive issues (243 issues at the end of 2024) are available online for subscribers: https://france-orchidees.org/produit/connexion-seul-tarif-membres-dassociations-francophones/ French websites http://orchideesdefrance.com/crbst_32.html Un inventaire très exhaustif des orchidées françaises. Mais l'entrée se fait avec le nom de l'espèce, il faut donc la connaître avant de découvrir les vues très variées qui l'illustrent. https://caladenia.net Découvrez sur ce site des orchidées d'Australie et autres orchidées exotiques mais surtout un remarquable travail de recensement des orchidées d'Ile de France et la Nièvre. Quel contraste entre la région densément peuplée qui borde Paris et la Nièvre (88 ème département dans le classement de population). On y trouvera pourtant de nombreuses espèces et on sera surpris de voir le nombre de communes qui en abritent ! https://www.elisajeanluc.fr/orchidees_nature/index.htm Superbe site qui propose de découvrir nombreux genres et espèces de France et d'Europe mais surtout documente avec de multiples vues de paysages et photos d'orchidées in situ les voyages des deux auteurs sur différents pays et continents. Foreign websites https://orchid.unibas.ch/index.php/en/ http://www.orchidsofbritainandeurope.co.uk/index.htm

Découvrez Ophrys arachnitiformis Ophrys en forme d'araignée sur Orchidée-photo.com Ophrys aurelia . Ophrys d'Aurélien. Bertoloni's bee orchid. (P. Delforge) Ophrys aurelia is very similar to Ophrys bertolonii , which is found in Italy where it was originally described. In France, this taxon is recognized as a local subspecies by some authors, or not at all by Kew Gardens. Its distribution area is therefore very variable. The species can be considered as a variety or a regional subspecies. There is a variety with smaller flowers: Ophrys saratoi . The plant is relatively pauciflorous, with flowers whose labellum is very dark brown to almost black, showing a “horse-saddle” curvature. A shiny macula starting from the middle of the labellum and occupying its lower part, along with very brightly colored petals and sepals, are remarkable characteristics. 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

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 Serapias parviflora. serapias à petites fleurs sur Orchidée-photo.com Serapias neglecta. Serapias négligé. Scarse serapias. Serapias with a Mediterranean distribution. It is a stocky plant with large flowers of variable coloration: light pink, sometimes yellow, bicolored... Click on the photos to enlarge

Cephalanthera damasonium. Cephalanthère à grandes fleurs. Large white helleborine. Cephalanthera are generally light undergrowth orchids. The flowers open little. To distinguish the 3 species, it is quite simple: the red cephalanthera has pink flowers, the long-leaved cephalanthera has leaves that start from the base of the plant and form upright swords, the large-flowered cephalanthera has rounder leaves on the entire stem. You should not always trust the colors of vernacular and even Latin names. The white helleborine has more yellow flowers than the longifolia helleborine and the red helleborine ( rubra ) has pink flowers... As for the size, I found many longifolia helleborines larger than the white helleborines (Large white helleborine in English). It is therefore essentially on the shape of the leaves that we will distinguish Cephalanthera damasonium presented here from Cephalanthera longifolia . Click on the photos to enlarge