June is traditionally the peak time of year for our bee orchids which appear on both Radipole and Lodmoor. Radipole has become well known for the 'Atrofuscus' or 'Brown Bee', a variety of bee orchid which I first discovered in 2008. (The very first atrofuscus which I discovered is my blog avatar). Below is my account of the discovery of the orchid which appears in Biodiversity News in 2011:
Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) grow in a variety of base rich habitats – grassland, scrub, sand dunes, spoil heaps and roadsides. Though its usual sites are well drained, the orchids can also thrive equally well in damp habitats. Bee Orchids are notorious for being prolific one year on a site and either few or no plants appearing the following year. A key characteristic of the Bee Orchid is the lip, which bears a resemblance to a bee, is a warm rich red-brown colour with golden bands and a golden tip folded underneath.
In 2008 I discovered an unusual Bee Orchid by one of the footpaths at the RSPB’s Weymouth Wetlands, at Radipole Lake. Instead of the typical bee markings on the lip, this plant had a completely plain red-brown lip and the markings were completely absent. In 2009 I counted a record thirty-one Bee Orchid plants on the reserve. This year also saw a second flowering of the ‘Brown Bee’, as it came to be known, on the same site but this time a second plant was found two metres away.
As the markings on this Bee Orchid were so unusual I undertook some research and established that it was a variety called Ophrys apifera var atrofuscus. This variety had first been discovered in Sussex in 2001, although it may have previously occurred in Herefordshire and has also been recorded at a site in Leicestershire. The atrofuscus plant at Radipole Lake is the first record for Dorset and it is Dorset’s only known site.
The ‘Brown Bee’ has flowered again this year with three plants being found in the same location. One plant in particular was spectacular with eight flowers. The ‘Brown Bee’ has flowered now three years in succession and we very much hope to see the plants bloom again in 2011. (End of Article).
The 'Brown Bee' has flowered on Radipole every year since 2008 and has since been found at different locations on the reserve. Mid June is normally the best time see these orchids. We are now on avidly looking for 2015's Brown Bee Orchids. If you see any on Radipole (or discover them on Lodmoor) or would like to know where they are on the reserve, visit the Radipole Lake Discovery Centre or telephone on 01305 778313.
Other orchids to look for on the reserve in June are the Southern Marsh Orchids, Common Spotted Orchids and in July, Pyramidal Orchids. Contact or visit the Discovery Centre for the locations.