8.03.26 Early Purples

It’s still too early for one of our earliest UK orchids, the Early purple (Orchis mascula), to flower but it won’t be terribly long now. I look forward to it as being effectively the start of our orchid season. They begin blooming in early April in the warmest most sheltered locations, or even from late March in these days of climate change.

I have been interested to find out when the leaves appear above ground. Members of the Orchis genus are variable, some species being wintergreen and some winter dormant in this regard. It seems to also vary within a single species depending on the location of the population, climate, etc.

O. mascula leaves are easy to spot being

long, wide and a very glossy green with many dark purple spots. They are some of the largest leaves found on UK orchids. It would seem to make sense, then, if they emerged quite early as they have a lot of growing to do before dying back by July. So I looked for leaves at a woodland site in West Sussex where I often go for walks.

On December 2^nd there were no leaves to be seen at all and on 18^th February I checked again and was surprised to see some bluebell leaves but apparently still no Early purples. I finally spotted one compact rosette coming up under Arum leaves. I think it had only just emerged. There are usually at least twenty plants here so I think the others must follow soon after. The gap between leaves emerging and flowers blooming appears to be quite short: about a month and a half!

There are woodland and grassland Early purple populations, the former occurring in many old woods on alkaline or neutral soils and the latter being found on chalk downs, road verges, embankments etc.  It would be interesting to know if the grassland plant leaves emerge at the same time. Typically they are less visible as they are partly hidden in the grass.

Like other orchid species and wildlife generally Early purples are thought to be declining from habitat loss and climate change. It is heartening to realise, though, that they are still one of our most common UK orchids. Thinking about it, I know at least 8 sites within my local area where they grow and there are probably others I haven’t discovered yet. Also I remember going to the chalk downs near the Belle Tout lighthouse at Birling Gap a year or two back. The gorse scrub had been cleared over a large area and there were literally hundreds of small early purples everywhere taking advantage of the increase in light. Encouraging!

Anthony.heys@sky.com