Less Typical Orchids

Loose-flowered Orchid Toothed Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid Four-spotted Orchid



Orchid Family - Orchidaceae

Violet Bird's-nest Orchid      Limodorum abortivum

(Violet Limodore) Native throughout southern Europe and the Mediterranean Region to the Middle East and the Caucasus. The flowers self-pollinate and, in dry years, the flowers may remain below ground.

Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid
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Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid Violet Bird's-nest Orchid
Flower
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Flower


Common Twayblade      Neottia ovata

Native throughout much of Europe, especially in the North. Less common and more scattered in the warmer south.

Common Twayblade Common Twayblade Common Twayblade Common Twayblade
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Flowers
Common Twayblade Common Twayblade Common Twayblade
Flower
Flower
Leaves


Man Orchid      Orchis anthropophora

Native from southern Britain, southward to Northwest Africa and eastward through the Mediterranean to Cyprus.

Man Orchid Man Orchid Man Orchid Man Orchid
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Man Orchid Man Orchid
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Leaves


Dense-flowered Orchid      Neotinea maculata

Native from Macaronesia and extreme western Europe, through the Mediterranean Region to the Middle East.

Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid
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Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid
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Basal leaves
Basal leaf


Compère's Orchid      Himantoglossum comperianum

Small populations known from Crimea, Turkey and the eastern Aegean islands, northern Iran and Lebanon. A rare plant throughout its range and threatened in Turkey by over-collecting for the ice-cream industry. For those visiting Lesvos in the main birdwatching season (late April to early May), this plant is likely only to be seen in bud. For photographs of the species in all its glory, there are some fine pictures on the Lesvos Birders website.

Note: the vernacular name for this species is spelt a variety of ways: Komper's, Comper's and Compère's have all appeared in various publications. The plant was originally named in owner of Compère, the French colonist and landowner in the Crimea who first collected the species, so it is that name that is used here.

Compère's Orchid Compère's Orchid
Young growth
Flower buds


Long-spurred Lizard Orchid      Himantoglossum calcaratum subsp. jankae

Native from Hungary southward through the Balkans to Crete and northern Turkey, and in Crimea.

Long-spurred Lizard Orchid Long-spurred Lizard Orchid Long-spurred Lizard Orchid Long-spurred Lizard Orchid
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Long-spurred Lizard Orchid Long-spurred Lizard Orchid
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Giant Orchid      Himantoglossum robertianum

Native throughout most of the Mediterranean Region.

Giant Orchid Giant Orchid Giant Orchid
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Giant Orchid Giant Orchid Giant Orchid
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Flower


Autumn Lady's-tresses      Spiranthes spiralis

Native throughout much of Europe except the North, eastwards to Turkey, Cyprus and the Caucasus. often missed by visiting naturalists as this is an autumn-flowering species.

Autumn Lady's-tresses Autumn Lady's-tresses Autumn Lady's-tresses
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Flowers
Autumn Lady's-tresses Autumn Lady's-tresses Autumn Lady's-tresses
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Seed capsules