Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of contributors
- 1 Factors influencing the germination and storage characteristics of orchid pollen
- 2 Effect of temperature and moisture content on the viability of Cattleya aurantiaca seed
- 3 Asymbiotic germination of epiphytic and terrestrial orchids
- 4 Germination and mycorrhizal fungus compatibility in European orchids
- 5 Host–fungus relationships in orchid mycorrhizal systems
- 6 The effects of the composition of the atmosphere on the growth of seedlings of Cattleya aurantiaca
- 7 Orchid propagation by tissue culture techniques – past, present and future
- 8 Population biology and conservation of Ophrys sphegodes
- 9 Predicting population trends in Ophrys sphegodes Mill.
- 10 Predicting the probability of the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) flowering or remaining vegetative from the size and number of leaves
- 11 British orchids in their European context
- 12 The Nature Conservancy Council and orchid conservation
- 13 A private conservation project in the coastal rainforest in Brazil: the first ten years
- 14 The role of the living orchid collection at Kew in conservation
- 15 Import and export of orchids and the law
- Index
11 - British orchids in their European context
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of contributors
- 1 Factors influencing the germination and storage characteristics of orchid pollen
- 2 Effect of temperature and moisture content on the viability of Cattleya aurantiaca seed
- 3 Asymbiotic germination of epiphytic and terrestrial orchids
- 4 Germination and mycorrhizal fungus compatibility in European orchids
- 5 Host–fungus relationships in orchid mycorrhizal systems
- 6 The effects of the composition of the atmosphere on the growth of seedlings of Cattleya aurantiaca
- 7 Orchid propagation by tissue culture techniques – past, present and future
- 8 Population biology and conservation of Ophrys sphegodes
- 9 Predicting population trends in Ophrys sphegodes Mill.
- 10 Predicting the probability of the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) flowering or remaining vegetative from the size and number of leaves
- 11 British orchids in their European context
- 12 The Nature Conservancy Council and orchid conservation
- 13 A private conservation project in the coastal rainforest in Brazil: the first ten years
- 14 The role of the living orchid collection at Kew in conservation
- 15 Import and export of orchids and the law
- Index
Summary
Of the estimated 191 species (Baumann & Künkele 1982) currently accepted for Europe, The Middle East and North Africa, only 53 are native to the British Isles. One of these, Spiranthes aestivalis (Poir.) L.C. Rich., is generally considered to be extinct.
Many Continental species, e.g. Epipactis muelleri Godfery, Limodorum abortivum (L.) Sw., Orchis coriophora L. and Serapias cordigera L., were prevented from ever reaching our shores by the formation of the English Channel around seven thousand years ago. Others, such as most Ophrys species, e.g. O. scolopax Cav. and Serapias species, e.g. S. lingua L., require a warmer, drier climate and only extend as far as south-west and south-central France. Although the majority of British orchids may be seen in greater numbers across the Channel, it is a mistake to assume that our native orchid flora is merely a poor representation of Continental Europe. Several species, particularly those of chalk grassland, are as widespread in Britain as elsewhere. Among these may be included Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) L.C. Rich., Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó and D. maculata (L.) Soó, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz, Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R.Br., Orchis mascula L. and Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Reichb.
A few species have their main European distribution in the British Isles, e.g. Epipactis phyllanthes G.E. Sm., a variable plant, some forms of which have cleistogamous flowers. On the Continent it is only found in western France and Denmark. Spiranthes romanzoffiana Cham. is an example of a North American species which, in Europe, is confined to Ireland, Western Scotland and Devon.
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- Information
- Modern Methods in Orchid Conservation , pp. 141 - 146Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989
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