Among the 100 or more types of plant noted along a walk along the local
canal.

An orchid

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Dactyl32.jpg

I find the spotted/marsh orchids a confusing group, but my best guess on
this one is Dactylorhiza praetermissa. (The leaves of this plant were
unspotted.)

And a blue-flowered iris

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris133.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris134.jpg

Possibly Iris foetidissima, but I'm not sure that it's this and not Iris
spuria or Iris versicolor. (The books all refer to the fruits for
identification, which isn't helpful at this time of year.) I found then
same species elsewhere last year, but it disappeared before I could
check the fruits.

Any views
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message
...
Among the 100 or more types of plant noted along a walk along the local
canal.

And a blue-flowered iris

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris133.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris134.jpg

Possibly Iris foetidissima, but I'm not sure that it's this and not Iris
spuria or Iris versicolor. (The books all refer to the fruits for
identification, which isn't helpful at this time of year.) I found then
same species elsewhere last year, but it disappeared before I could check
the fruits.

Any views

I would have thought it could be Iris versicolor. Possibly Iris siberica
"Perry's Blue".

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote
"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message
Among the 100 or more types of plant noted along a walk along the local
canal.

And a blue-flowered iris

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris133.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris134.jpg

Possibly Iris foetidissima, but I'm not sure that it's this and not Iris
spuria or Iris versicolor. (The books all refer to the fruits for
identification, which isn't helpful at this time of year.) I found then
same species elsewhere last year, but it disappeared before I could check
the fruits.

Any views

I would have thought it could be Iris versicolor. Possibly Iris siberica
"Perry's Blue".

Looks exactly like our Iris siberica.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

Bob wrote:

Looks exactly like our Iris siberica.

I agree - Iris sibirica has 'escaped' on many occasions and is quite
widely naturalised.

The orchid could be D. praetermissa, but based upon what I can see
from the pic it would appear that the lateral ss are proportionately
longer than the typical sp. and thrust forward and down rather than
being upswept. The loose 'hood' of lateral petals and dorsal sepals
is also rather too 'loose' compared to many of the marsh orchids I've
seen. I'm more inclined to think this may be a hybrid, with the
fragrant orchid - Gymnadenia conopsea somewhere in its background.
The so-called 'spotted orchids' are confusing, largely because they
are so promiscuous and readily hybridise with other species and
genera. 1st generations are easier to identify, but when 2nd and 3rd
gens. arise the difference become very subtle indeed. Worse still if
they stabilise at that stage giving the impression that there is a
'new', undiscovered species.

I'm not sure it's always worth trying to take a Dactylorhiza identification too far unless you really want to get anal about orchids. They hybridise far too freely. If you want to get anal, there are very good books by Lang and by Harrap.

Like others,, that looks to me very much like a garden escape sibiria. My I foetidissima has more brown on the throat - overall the appearance of a duller flower, rather than the clean sprightliness of the one in your pic

In message
,
Dave Poole writes
Bob wrote:

Looks exactly like our Iris siberica.

I agree - Iris sibirica has 'escaped' on many occasions and is quite
widely naturalised.

Youall would seem to have resolved this one. Thanks.

I'm used to seeing Iris siberica in dense clumps in gardens, so I hadn't
considered it. Stace says that the stems are hollow, and the bracts are
brown and papery when in flower, so I can check these features out if I
have the opportunity.

I've now found another Iris, by another canal. Is this Iris spuria?

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris155.jpg

I also found a lily that appears to have escaped into the wildish. It's
growing in a riverside corridor through a park, but that corridor shows
now evidence of recent cultivation. (The lime trees might have been
planted many years ago.)

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Lilium64.jpg

Lilium pyrenaicum?

The orchid could be D. praetermissa, but based upon what I can see
from the pic it would appear that the lateral ss are proportionately
longer than the typical sp. and thrust forward and down rather than
being upswept. The loose 'hood' of lateral petals and dorsal sepals
is also rather too 'loose' compared to many of the marsh orchids I've
seen. I'm more inclined to think this may be a hybrid, with the
fragrant orchid - Gymnadenia conopsea somewhere in its background.
The so-called 'spotted orchids' are confusing, largely because they
are so promiscuous and readily hybridise with other species and
genera. 1st generations are easier to identify, but when 2nd and 3rd
gens. arise the difference become very subtle indeed. Worse still if
they stabilise at that stage giving the impression that there is a
'new', undiscovered species.

Gymnadenia is not known from the vicinity. But I'm going to think
further on your suggestion.

I found some more orchids as well (which I haven't yet attempted to
identify) in two batches (not too far apart) which may be the same
taxon. The second is more robust than any orchid I've seen wild other
than Epipactis helleborine.

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/IMG_3208.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/IMG_3209.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/IMG_3210.jpg
http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/IMG_3211.jpg
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message
...
Youall would seem to have resolved this one. Thanks.

I'm used to seeing Iris siberica in dense clumps in gardens, so I hadn't
considered it. Stace says that the stems are hollow, and the bracts are
brown and papery when in flower, so I can check these features out if I
have the opportunity.

I've now found another Iris, by another canal. Is this Iris spuria?

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris155.jpg

Look to me like Iris laevigata.

I also found a lily that appears to have escaped into the wildish. It's
growing in a riverside corridor through a park, but that corridor shows
now evidence of recent cultivation. (The lime trees might have been
planted many years ago.)

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Lilium64.jpg

Lilium pyrenaicum?

Could well be.

--

Jeff

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message
...
Youall would seem to have resolved this one. Thanks.

I'm used to seeing Iris siberica in dense clumps in gardens, so I
hadn't considered it. Stace says that the stems are hollow, and the
bracts are brown and papery when in flower, so I can check these
features out if I have the opportunity.

I've now found another Iris, by another canal. Is this Iris spuria?

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Iris155.jpg

Look to me like Iris laevigata.

Now that you mention it, it does.

I also found a lily that appears to have escaped into the wildish.
It's growing in a riverside corridor through a park, but that corridor
shows now evidence of recent cultivation. (The lime trees might have
been planted many years ago.)

http://www.stewart.hinsley.me.uk/Images/Lilium64.jpg

Lilium pyrenaicum?

Could well be.


--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Have you had a go at identifying these yet? Interested as to what the first one is, having spent the last few days seeing various common spotted/northern marsh hybrids. Second one is an absolute beauty!