Orchis pallens

The populations of Orchis species are marked by very irregular blooming : in some years .the localities are literally flooded with inflorescences ,in other years in the same localities ,the blooming specimen could be counted on one hand .This phenomenon is not easy to explain ,as there are a number of factors acting atonce .For instance ,it depends on the number of specimens that reached maturity and their first blooming in a given yea;on how regularly the species in question are actually known to bloom ;if the orchids' leaves were damaged in the previous year by agents such as pests ,grazing cattle and mowing .

A good example attesting to the above explanation is the species Orchis pallens .Another point of interest that it is the earliest to bloom of all Orchis species . Flowers appear on it as early as in mid-April and are therefore oftern damaged by frost .The ground leaf rosette consists of 2-4 elongated oval leaves ;the flower spike is covered with 1-2 pouched leaves . A cylindrical inflorescence of medium density grows on a 6-14 in/15 -35 cm tall stalk and bears 15-30 sulphur -yellow flowers . The color of the flowers is relatively exceptional by the standard of the genus -yellow flowered species are a minority among Orchis . Orchis pallens inhabits semi-deciduous and deciduous forests,or the semi-shade of bushes on damp meadows . Flowers can be expected between April and June .It grows all over Europe and Asia Minor.