Local Orchid Sites N W S and E
The Compass links (ABOVE) bring you to outstanding
botanical Sites in, or near, Co. Roscommon. It is Home to
us now! It has a greatly underestimated range of Flora
and Plant habitats. Go out an Explore! Just click on any of
the 4 BlueCompass points (ABOVE).
SUMMER
Banner IMage
RESEARCH : What to do?
WildWest has been recording and collating some
interesting specialist Orchids, rare in general and
unique as a collection in North West Ireland. List of
all species in this area, found in many different
places. To go to Pages use the dark BLUE titles.
Orchids all around us!
White orchids23
https://www.wildwest.ie/whiteorchids23.html
WildWest.ie
Home Page 2025
Continuing
Orchids
in
NW
Ireland:
Now
is
the
time
(July/September)
to
study
the
variety
of
rare
Orchids
we
find
around many ideal Habitats in this area and where people now come to view some very rare orchids…
Very
shortly
the
marvellous
Irish
Lady’s
Tresses
will
be
appearing
all
over
our
area.
See
Image
(RIGHT).
This
species
occurs
in
great
numbers
in
Mayo,
Roscommon
and
Leitrim,
typically
on
either
stony
or
grassy
shores
very
close
to
a
lake;
often
actually
in
the
lake
if
the
water
level
rises
in
these
months.
They
are
a
protected
species
in
Ireland
and
should
not
be
damaged
or
taken.
If
taking
photographs always look behind you… they may be all around.
The
first
Dense
Flowered
Orchid
we
found
was
in
Roscommon
—
a
single
plant
in
a
large
underground
water
system.
In
2023
further sites and emerging plants were found. These are also protected.
Other
rare
orchids
now
flowering
would
include
Small
White
Orchids
(May
and
June).
These
the
Small
Whites
are
the
next
protected species occurring in low hills around the Bricklieves; west of the Hills and the N4 route from Carrick-on-Shannon.
Also
occurring
in
this
Habitat
are
the
Lesser
Butterfly
Orchid
and
Greater
Butterfly
Orchid
(now
flowering).
The
Greater
Butterfly
Orchid
also
occurs
on
fields
left
ungrazed
into
early
Autumn
where
they
regularly
occur
if
undisturbed;
elsewhere
they
have
shown
rapid decline in numbers as they also like growing in early cut grazing meadows.
Then
we
have
the
season
(basically
JUNE
to
OCTOBER)
when
Irish
Lady’s
Tresses
can
flower
and
propagate.
If
the
water
level
rises
much
in
Sept/Oct
these
plants
will
be
flooded
and,
perhaps,
killed.
BUT,
they
have
amazing
talent
to
recover
and
overwinter
under
Mayo lakes (particularly) and re-emerge in future years. Can be large (40cm) and occur in numbers up to 600 if not damaged.
Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Irish Lady’s Tresses)
Lough Cullin Co. Mayo 2025
Continuing RARE Orchids Spiranthes romanzoffiana in NW Ireland…
Dense Flowered Small White Orchid Frog Orchid Early Marsh Orchid Greater Butterfly Fragrant Orchid
Bee Orchid
Spring/Summer collection of other Orchids:
Moving from Left to Right these 7 featured early orchids emerge roughly in
line with the seasons. These are mostly montane species growing in hilly
places, coastal dunes and marshes. Spiranthes is the chief emerging in July.
Other Orchid species group into choice of Habitat;
Marshes, Fields, Reed Beds and the macabre Birds Nest
Orchids without colour.
As well, there is a small interesting SITE of 4 white-
flowering species. See BELOW:
See link BELOW to ongoing surveys and research on
Irish Ladies Tresses aka… Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Click to enlarge a
photo