Military Orchid Orchis Militaris Homefield Wood May 2016. Beautiful sturdy orchid that has an incredible story recovery. Declared extinct a plant was discovered in 1949 in Suffolk in a disused quarry and then in 1955 in Berkshire. Through careful management including hand fertilisation of flowers and scrub clearance it has recovered well. Although still confined to just 3 sites numbers are now in the high hundreds. Hand fertilisation was needed because it doesn’t really offer insects anything no nectar or scent!
The Military Orchid is so called because the flower resembles a helmeted and cloaked warrior. Follow link for close ups of flowers and their slightly different forms in Suffolk and Berkshire. The flowering plant can be up to 40cm high. Flowers from mid May to early June.