Thursday 15 June 2023

Heath Fragrant Orchids


Working again in Hampshire so made a little detour to a Heath Fragrant Orchid site. Thanks for the info Bill! This is my 36th species of orchid in Britain. I was really surprised at how different they looked to Marsh Fragrant and Chalk fragrant - much smaller and more delicate with fewer flowers. Of course I couldn't resist sniffing them and, true to form, they smelled incredible! They grow side-by-side with Heath Spotted Orchids at this site, and are found on cushion-like tussocks in the wettest areas of the heathland. Guessing it's normally a lot wetter though.







Saw lots of Heath Spotted Orchids too. They seemed to be, on average, more patterned and pinker that the majority that I see on the pebbled heaths.






If anyone knows what this is, please let me know. Some sort of Poppy? Edit - Fox-and-Cubs - thank you Dave.


First-instar Puss Moth caterpillar.


Not sure what this is. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Growing in dense clumps in a formerly damp corner of an arable field... Edit - Toad Rush - huge thanks John!



Another species I haven't been able to identify. It was on a roadside verge that I'm guessing has been deliberately planted with some sort of wild flower seed mix. Edit - Linaria maroccana or Moroccan Toadflax - thank you to Alejandra and Neil for their help.


Crescent Bell - Epinotia bilunana.


Brown Elm bell Epinotia abbreviana.

Scorched Carpet.


Hawthorn Moth Scythropia crataegella.

Freyer's Pug.

Green Pug.

Common Pug.


Pretty Chalk Carpet.


Juvenile Swallows - Mudbank.

8 comments:

  1. Your 'poppy' looks like Fox-and-Cubs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah - would never have considered that - thank you Dave! Matt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your unidentified pink flower looks like toadflax

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alejandra - many thanks for your help. It was bugging me! Stunning little flowers in a variety of colours. All the best. Matt.

      Delete
  4. Agree purple-pink flower looks like Linaria maroccana-often in some annual seed mixes. Can't really get any detail on the unidentified plant above it.

    Some good moths & orchids, Matt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Neil - thank you. Guessed you'd know what it was! Hope you're keeping well. Good to hear from you as always. Matt.

      Delete
  5. Hi Matt, How about Toad Rush, Juncus bufonius for your pictures above the toadflax? Regards John

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much John - that's brilliant! have looked on line and agree it looks a very good match. All the very best. Matt.

    ReplyDelete