"A rare orchid... discovered at the Ecos Park in Ballymena... vanished...
It is thought that the Irish Lady's Tresses orchid [Cúilín gaelach = Spiranthes romanzoffiana] found at the Ulster Wildlife Trust reserve in the park may have been eaten by one of the grazing cows. The only parts of western Europe where the rare orchid is found are Western Scotland and Ireland, and in Ulster it has only been seen at 14 sites since 1892. Experts believe the orchid has already disappeared from six of those sites as it hasn't been seen there since 1986. The flower is listed as a Priority Species in the UK because of its rarity and declining distribution. Ecos Park environment officer... Cliff Henry... The plant is just four inches tall with pale cream flowers and grass-like leaves. The blooms wrap round the flowering stem in an upward spiral instead of sticking straight out. ... Henry was unable to find the orchid again and believes it may have been eaten by one of the rare breeds cattle that graze the meadow" Article URL: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=701525 see also : http://www.peatlandsni.gov.uk/plants/rare/irish.htm ********** regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
