Wildflower Wednesday. Early Purple Orchid. Orchid mascula.

The Early Purple Orchid is the first barbaric orchidaceous plant to bloom in Britain . When the harebell are out , spread their beautiful cerulean rug throughout the woods , it is clock time to go in search of this gorgeous orchid .

It used to be a coarse sight in the countryside but in Suffolk there are very few meadows and hedge where it can still be discover . We are lucky that it still thrives in some of our remain fragments of ancient woodlands . Not far from where I live there is a wood where nobody seems to go very much . Here there are carpets of these howling orchids . Some year there are more than others . Last year was the best that I had ever figure it . This twelvemonth there are still plenty of blooms but not such a loggerheaded carpet as last year . The purple peak grow on spikes . The humbled lip of each blossom has three lobe and the upper petals form a hood . The lustrous rosette of leaves is unremarkably intemperately spotted . When the heyday first open they have a finespun fragrance which becomes social station as the peak mature . For some understanding the olfactory property is quite unpleasant in the evening . ( I noted this whilst heed for the Lady with the Lamp which used to be common in this wood . So far I have n’t heard any this year.)The colouration of these orchids ramble from dark purple to pink . Very occasionally you come across a white one . The leaves of the paler ones and the snowy ones do not have spot . A drink used to be made from the Tuber hollo ‘ salep ’ . There were stall sell it in London and it was believe a very wholesome drink . In the nineteenth century the essayist and poet , Charles Lamb wrote : ‘ a basin of it at three halfpence , accompanied by a slicing of bread and butter at a ha’penny is an ideal breakfast for a lamp chimney sweep . ’

The nameOrchisis Latin for testicles , so ring because of the classifiable form of the tuber . ‘ Mascula’is Latin for masculine and perhaps that is why in times gone past it was used as an aphrodisiac . Gerard call orchids ‘ Satyrions ’ . They were supposed to be the food of satyrs and as such led to their excesses . In mythology Orchis was the Word of a satyr and a houri . Culpepper read of the plant : ‘ It chevvy lust exceedingly ’ .

As today , 23rd April , is William Shakespeare ’s natal day , let ’s see what the Bard had to say about Early Purple Orchids . He had such a profound noesis of barbaric blossom and he called these orchids : ‘ farsighted Purples ’ . It was one of the flowers that the short unhinged Ophelia wove into her garland inHamlet:‘There is a willow get slanted a brookThat show his rime leaves in the glassy stream . There with wondrous garlands did she come , Of crowflowers , nettles , daisies and long purples , That bighearted shepherd give a grosser nameBut our inhuman housemaid do dead adult male ’s finger call them . ’The fourth wednesday of the calendar month is Wildflower Wednesday . This meme is host by Gail atclayandlimestone web log . It is a chance to celebrate our uncivilized flower . Do join in and tell us about the baseless flowers you are enjoy at the moment .

42 Responses toWildflower Wednesday. Early Purple Orchid. Orchid mascula.

A most informatory and enjoyable post Chloris . What intriguing flowers and foliage . I ’ve question over the age about the reference to ‘ retentive purples ’ in Hamlet so it ’s with child to have that finical mystery solve .

So very jolly , how fantastic that you have somewhere to go to see these wildflowers growing wild .

Gorgeous orchidaceous plant ! A wonderfully informatory and think of post to go along with them .

Beautiful flower , engrossing history . I love the faithful - ups establish the different people of colour . expectant spot !

Wildflower Wednesday. Early Purple Orchid. Orchid mascula.