The start of our orchid season is still at least a month away, but on the 16th of March I was fortunate to be able to go on an outing to see Giant orchids (Himantoglossum robertianum, also known as Barlia robertiana) flowering in the wild in the U.K.
This was organised by the Hardy Orchid Society and was at a secret location in central England. It is, of course, not a native species here, being found mostly in the warmer climes of Mediterranean islands and bordering countries. The location is at the foot of a steep bank and conditions may be fairly sheltered. Perhaps the milder winters of climate change are helping this species to grow here?
They were actually first noticed about 15 years ago by locals. Seeds probably did not blow in naturally on the wind, but are believed to have been deliberately scattered by human hand. After a few years they apparently died out, but in the last 3 years new plants have returned in the same place.
Flowering as early as January onwards in the Mediterranean and living up to their name by growing to 80cm tall or more, the plants here are much smaller: only reaching about 20cm. There were four in flower, and several other non-flowering leaf rosettes.
It is interesting to wonder whether they might be the earliest-ever flowering wild orchids in the U.K. in modern times? There are some similar cases of isolated European Ophrys species flowering here, and these could also be very early. Our earliest native species are the Early Purple (Orchis mascula) and the Early Spider (Ophrys sphegodes), both of which have been known from late March. They are more usually open from April into May.
At any rate, these Giants were a surprising and exciting sight to see in the gloom of the soggy British countryside, just waking up from winter.
Photos: 1. Giant orchid on steep bank, 2. Close-up of Giant orchid flowers
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