Neottia ovata 'Common Twayblade'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Orchidaceae: a distinctive orchid of open woodlands and grassland to 50cm. found on a wide range of soil types. The flowers are yellowish green, with a distinct hood and deeply forked lower lip, in loose spikes of 20 or more flowers, flowering from May-August. The leaves are a pair of broad, oval basal leaves up to 16cm long, and appear a long time before the flowers. Widespread and generally common, sometimes found in sizeable colonies. Naive to most of Europe, including the British Isles, as well as Siberia, Central Asia, Southwest Asia and the Himalayas. It has been introduced into Ontario, Canada.

I can't find any information on medical/edible uses of this species, but it is an interesting orchid, with a charm all of its own.

Growing wild orchids from seed:

Before you read any further, you need to understand that unless you are a professional orchid grower, with all the right gear to grow orchids form seed, this is 100% experimental enterprise, and there are no guarantees for success!

Orchids have dust like seed that can dispersed over extremely long distances on the wind. These seeds can survive for perhaps 5 year or more. They must form an endomycorrhizal relationship with a specific soil fungi soon after germination. The first few years after germination are spent below ground, with the young orchid gaining nutrition from its fungal partner. The symbiotic relationship continues as the growing orchid produces it first leaves, normally after 3-5 years, and flowering, perhaps between 3-8 years after germination. Most orchid species will continue to flower and bulk up year after year, but the beautiful Bee orchid sadly only flowers once.

There is no easy way of knowing if your site can provide the right conditions for orchids, or if the soil contains the right fungus, the fungus is, however, very common, even in the absence of orchids. Also, it appears that grassland species may establish and grow better in association with species such as Leonntodon hisidus, and other rosette forming species, in short, open, flower rich swards on poor soils.

When sowing orchid seed do take all of the above into account, but let nature sort out the detail. Sprinkle the seed finely over the surface of your chosen spot. Allow lightly water with rain water to help wash the seed through the vegetation and into the soil. To manage the site, from year to year, at the end of August cut the grass down. Fingers crossed and hopefully you will have your very own orchids in around 3-8 years from sowing.

Good Luck!

HARVESTED: 

APPROX. 500+ SEEDS