The flora of Périgord in South-West France is abundant and diverse. In this blog you can find, in pictures, brief encounters with several hundreds of wild flowers and plants as they grow here in French Perigord. Following the seasons other species are added. An index of scientific and English names you find below on the right.

Corine Oosterlee is a botanist and photographer and she offers guided Botanical Walks and other activities around plants and vegetation in nature in Perigord. Do you want to know more? On www.baladebotanique.fr you can find more information. For Corine's photography see www.corineoosterlee.com. Both websites also in English.

Enjoy!




April 14, 2009

Western Spider Orchid


Since end of March there are flowering orchids in Trémolat. Here is the earliest, a Western Spider Orchid (Ophrys occidentalis). It is a small pale green plant, only 10 or 20 cm high. It is easy to crush it when you are looking for it.



On its velvety lip it has a clear spot, the mirror, which makes it look like a spider. At least, that’s what we humans think. Some bees believe it is another bee, sitting on a green flower. It even has eyes!