MEETING WITH ORCHIDS

 

This time the title of the Polish version of this post is completely different to the English one, but it is impossible to translate because the Polish title is based on a "play on words". In Polish, the Cuckoo (bird) is called the same as one of the described orchids. So the title "Spring cuckoo" will be completely inadequate.

But „ad rem”

Well - the hunt for salamanders didn't work out for us so on our way back home we went to check if the orchids were in bloomh. There is a place nearby where there are two species of them.

The elder-flowered orchid 

 There are no narrow-leaved helleborine  yet - it blooms a bit later in the season so the presented  photos are from Małgosia and Andrzej's later trip (the following week).

The elder-flowered orchid, on the other hand, are blooming abundantly.

The elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina)  is one of about... 50 species found in Poland.

                                          The elder-flowered orchid

                                               The elder-flowered orchid

I don't know why there are two colors of flowers in this species population - yellow and purple but it doesn't change the fact that they always please my eyes.

The plants are not too tall so – horizontal position 😂

Małgosia

Joanna, on the other hand, watched everything with a smile.

Asia

 

Another orchid is the sword-leafed helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) which grows up to 60 cm and looks simply magnificent - covered in white flowers.

 During the flowering period, you can find quite a few of them here - despite the fact that they do not produce nectar (I read 😊 ), they seem popular with the insects. 

By the way, what are they looking for there???

The sword-leafed helleborine- photo: Andrzej Rapak

The sword-leafed helleborine- photo: Andrzej Rapak

The sword-leafed helleborine- photo: Andrzej Rapak

The sword-leafed helleborine- photo: Andrzej Rapak

The sword-leafed helleborine- photo: Andrzej Rapak

If you want to get to know other species of orchids and find out where their names come from - I recommend a book by a colleague Wojciech, whom you already know from previous posts - here's the link: https://wgfgissa.pl/storczyki-polski-etymologia/  (only in Polish)

A small beetle was walking around the flowers - probably one of the Phyllobius (but I'm not sure).

 

REMEMBER!! 

All orchids in Poland are protected species - that is, they cannot be picked or destroyed.

So we didn’t even try, because we might have problems with the law, but really why would we need to. 😁

Photos: If not signed - Marek Czubaszek, and also Andrzej Rapak (listed in the captions) 😊