Early Purple Orchids

Title

Early Purple Orchids

Artist

Rob Hemphill

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Early-Purple Orchids are found around and amongst the limestone pavement slabs in the Burren. It is one of the more common varieties of orchid to be found in the area, which is situated in County Clare in the West of Ireland.

The early-purple orchid or Orchis mascula is a perennial herbaceous plant with stems up to 50–60 centimetres (20–24 in) high, green at the base and purple on the apex. The root system consists of two tubers, rounded or ellipsoid.

The leaves, grouped at the base of the stem, are oblong-lanceolate, pale green, sometimes with brownish-purple speckles. The inflorescence is 7.5–12.5 centimetres (3–5 in) long and it is composed of 6 to 20 flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes. The flower size is about 2.5 centimetres (1 in) and the color varies from pinkish-purple to purple.

The lateral sepals are ovate-lanceolate and erect, the median one, together with the petals, is smaller and cover the gynostegium. The labellum is three-lobed and convex, with crenulated margins and the basal part clearer and dotted with purple-brown spots. The spur is cylindrical or clavate, horizontal or ascending. The gynostegium is short, with reddish-green anthers. It blooms from April to June.

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Featured in the following FAA Groups:

"The Niche" 06/08/2020
"New FAA Uploads" 06/01/2020
"Your Story of Art" 05/31/2020
"10 Plus" 05/30/2020
"Exploration Photography" 05/28/2020
"Just Perfect" 05/28/2020
"Orchids" 05/28/2020
"Macro Marvels" 05/28/2020

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Uploaded

May 28th, 2020

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Viewed 361 Times  -  Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/24/2024 at 2:57 PM

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