Miscellaneous Orchids
What are they?
This page covers a couple of orchid species that don't fit neatly into any other category and have their own, unique qualities. Despite their uniqueness, the basic orchid traits are there in the single, upright spikes with large numbers of small flowers clustered along the stem. The flowers also have the usual construction of three sepals and three petals, with the upper segments forming an enclosed hood and the lower petal greatly enlarged into a labellum. Bird's-nest orchid is rather unusual, however, in having no chlorophyll or leaves (so no green parts) and lives as a saprophyte on decaying organic matter in the soil.
Where are they found?
These are rather rare species, found in just a handful of locations in our region, Lizard Orchid in grassland and Bird's-nest Orchid in woodland.
Identification
These two species should be readily identifiable due to their unusual appearances. Bird's-nest Orchid could feasibly be confused with the broomrapes which can have a superficially similar appearance but which have rather different flowers with the petals fused into a tubular corolla. Compare also with Yellow Bird's-nest.
Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum
Native in chalky grassland habitats. Other than a long established population near Newmarket, this is an enigmatic species that has appeared spontaneously from time to time only to disappear after a few years. It may well turn up again from time to time on grassy roadsides. Flowers June to July. A remarkable species with extravagantly long lower lips to the flowers, which form long, twisted 'lizard tails'. The plant also has a goat-like scent and is unlikely to be confused with any other species in our area.
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
Bird's-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis
Native. Rare in our region due to a lack of suitably old, mature woodland with rich, loamy soils and plenty of leaf litter. Scattered at a few locations in Norfolk and a little more frequent in South and East Suffolk, but lost from many former sites. Flowers June to July. A saprophyte which has no leaves or green parts. The plant gets its name from the tangled ball of roots that gets sustenance from rotting, organic material. The flower spikes can be hard to find in the deep shade of mature woodland.
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|