Snippets of Wealth - Friday 5th July 2019 - Hutton Roof - Dark Red Helleborine/Broad Leaved Helleborine

Butterflies included: Ringlet x4, Meadow Brown 5x, Large Fritillary x1 which went high and settled on the uppermost leaves of a nearby Ash tree. Dark Green Fritillary x2, Red Admiral x1, Small Heath x2, Painted Lady x3, Grayling x2

Today it was great at first but it didn't take long for the sun to come out and the wind to get up which made it difficult to take photos, but we did get one or two.  

This year although we are suffering and have lost lots of specials due to last years heatwave, we are this year still getting plenty of nice specimens coming through, one thing I have especially noticed is that we have got a lot more of the 'hyperchromic' specimens which we have not had in a while!

Also what I have already seen of a couple of pallens, they are showing more red pigment this year within their epichiles and bosses. It makes you wonder if the heatwave or lack of water last year has caused some effect within the make up for this year.  

A very rare Epipactis atrorubens (Click over to enlarge)

Photo: Hutton Roof 5th July 2019

Until today never ever seen a split spike on a atrorubens before - more photos further down.

 Epipactis atrorubens (click over to enlarge)

Photo: Hutton Roof 5th July 2019

This shows all the marks of a new schmalhauseneii hybrid and I have made notes of the gps etc. Its light form already looks like it is following the line of family 9s........ we shall have to wait and see. 

Absolutely gorgeous specimen