species (Northern Ireland) "Phil Davidson, National Trust Wildlife and Countryside Advisor said: “During July, Portstewart dunes host an abundance of pyramidal orchids, northern marsh-orchids and the... bee orchid in a few scattered locations. ... the grazing management regime which we introduced in 2009 to improve the dune habitat has delivered such... rewards.” White Park Bay is home to eight different species of orchids. In early summer... early purple orchids on the dunes, followed by the... pyramidal orchids in July and... the... frog orchid. The... paddock at Rowallane Garden also has an abundance of orchids during the summer, including the... greater butterfly orchid with its slender stem and delicate flowers. During the later half of the summer the common spotted orchid, which varies in colour from almost pure white to a deep lilac, and the Northern Marsh Orchid can be seen at many Trust sites including Downhill, Ballyconaghan, Ballymacormick and Castle Coole... It can take many years for a germinated orchid seed to form a tuber and push its way above ground, and many more before it begins to flower. Coupled with a requirement for some helpful soil fungi, the correct grazing management and in many cases very specific insect pollinators, the humble orchid needs a very stable environment in which to thrive... these conditions occur at many National Trust places and... are rewarded with a summer of orchids from early purple in spring to Irish lady’s tresses in late summer and early autumn. It was Charles Darwin who noted how the morphological form of the orchids flower matched the feeding apparatus of its pollinating insect... Phil added: “Many of our rarer orchids such as Irish Lady’s tresses are protected and need our careful management to ensure they flourish for all to enjoy. ... the presence of orchids can give us an idea of the general health of our environments” "
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 10:46:14 +0000
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