Bird's-nest Orchid | Reserves and species

Scientific Name:

Neottia nidus-avis

The Bird's-nest orchid is a very strange plant: leafless and without the green chlorophyll of other plants that enable them to gain energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, it grows as a parasite on the roots of trees, gaining its nutrients from its host. Usually found in woodland, particularly under Beech trees, this almost sickly looking, yellow plant appears from May to July.

How to identify:

The Bird's-nest Orchid is a brownish-yellow flower spike with small, hooded flowers clustered together.

Where to find it:

Scattered throughout mainland UK; locally common in the south of England and quite common in Northern Ireland.

How people can help:

The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for a range of wildflowers including various orchids. A mix of coppicing, scrub-cutting, ride maintenance and non-intervention helps many flowers and plants to thrive and keeps others that are more invasive under control. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.

Statistics:

Height: up to 35cm

Conservation status:

Classified as Near Threatened in Britain on the Red Data List.

Did you know?:

Found everywhere on Earth, except in the driest deserts and on freezing glaciers, orchids are the second largest flowering plant family with 25,000 species. Many of these plants have become highly specialised, with attractive flowers that often mimic the pollinators they are trying to attract, or parasitic relationships such as that of the Bird's-nest Orchid.

Seasons:

Spring

Summer

When to see

Start date:

May

End date:

July

Image: