Dear Readers, on 16th April it was International Orchid Appreciation Day. Who knew? There are 26,000 species worldwide, but for this quiz I am going to concentrate on the European ones. Many of them are named after their physical features, although with some of them I fear that you’d have to squint to see the resemblance. However, I have every confidence that you will be able to match the photo to the species without TOO much trouble.

As usual, answers in the comments by 5 p.m. (UK time) on Thursday 22nd April, and as usual the answers will pop up on Friday. I will ‘disappear’ your answers as soon as I see them, but do write them down first if you are easily influenced (like me). Have fun! I was amazed at how many of these beautiful plants we have in the UK, nearly all of them scarce or rare. How I would love it if some of them popped up in my garden, but as it is I think I’ll have to make do with the green alkanet.

Just match the name to the photo. So, if you think the orchid in Photo 1 is a Military Orchid, your answer is 1)A.

Onwards!

Orchid Species

A – Military Orchid (Orchis militaris)

B – Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum)

C – Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata)

D – Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens)

E – Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea)

F – Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata(

G – Autumn Lady’s-Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)

H – Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride)

I – Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha)

J – Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes)

K – Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

L – Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora)

M – Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)

O – Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

N – Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)