Early June Kenfig NNR Orchids

Continuing Tom's exploration of the Gower ...in between revision sessions....

15 species of orchid can be found at Kenfig, many of which flower at different times of the year. In early June (1st), I found 8 of these: 

• Pyramidal orchid (just coming into flower)
• Common spotted (just coming into flower)
• Early marsh orchid (flowering but in fewer numbers)
• Southern marsh orchid 
• Marsh helleborine (rosettes with some in bud)
• Fen orchid (peak flowering time)
• Common twayblade 
• Early purple orchid (almost all past flowering)

Kenfig also shows great variability in some species such as the early marsh orchid, where 3 out the 4 subspecies can be seen in close proximity. 

Early marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza incarnata) subspecies: left hand side: subspecies incarnata, top right: subspecies coccinea and bottom right: subspecies pulchella. 

Marsh helleborines (Epipactis palustris) rosettes starting to come into bud (right).

 The jewel in Kenfig's orchid crown is the fen orchid. It is the only place in the UK where the dune form of the species can be found, with only three other sites in Norfolk bearing the species. Hence Kenfig represents the majority of the UK population, perhaps as much as 90%.
Last year, I failed to find these gems but with some research and advice, I was successful this year in seeing this very rare and beautiful species.

Fen orchids (Liparis loeselii). Bottom left: the freshly scraped dune slack, is on the left hand of the image as shown by less vegetation,  where the fen orchids can be found, bottom right: orchids yet to flower and bottom right: a number of orchids densely packed. 

Fen orchids and early marsh orchids/ helleborine rosettes sharing a similar habitat. 

There are also many other species of orchid: 

The many other species of orchid found at Kenfig in early June (from left to right): common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), early purple orchid (Orchis mascula), common twayblade (Neottia ovata) and pyramidal orchid (Anacampis pyramidalis).