Photo exhibition

As you see them when going on a botanical walk...

"Ambiance Nature"

Wild Plants in Perigord


Exhibition of photographs by Corine Oosterlee

Castle of Limeuil (24510), 3 to 30 June 2012, daily from 10.00 to 18.00.

Two Pines

The Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) is planted often between the Sweet Chestnuts on more or less acid soil, or in single-species plantations. But here we consider the two species of Pine also commonly found on calcareous soil, in Oak and Hornbeam forests. They are originally also cultivated species, but they behave like wild trees and grow spontaneously in many places. Now they start flowering, and are easy to distinguish by the form of their male catkins. Yes, this yellow powdery stuff that makes your car look dirty is Pine pollen!



The male catkins of the European Black Pine (Pinus nigra) are rather large and form a crown at the base of the newly developing branches. In this image you see them just before dispersal of the pollen above last year's long green  needles.













The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) has smaller catkins and those form a kind of cylinder around a new twig. The orange protection sheath that covered young catkins and twig is still visible.














And the female catkins? During summer they will develop into pine cones, as you can see already. Here you see those of an European Black Pine.

Green-Winged Orchid

One of the first orchids in flower is the Green-Winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio). It can be found in dry grasslands, and also on grassy roadsides, sometimes in large amounts. Because it flowers so early, sometimes it has to survive  a freezing cold night. Like now.



No problem!

Hornbeam

The Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a forest tree, often found together with oaks. They often form dense woods and seem to like Northern slopes.



Now the new leaves are unfolding.

Spring Cinquefoil

In the same environment as the previous species grows the Spring Cinquefoil (Potentilla verna).


Here its tiny yellow flowers surround a small Western Spider Orchid (Ophrys occidentalis) that likes the same habitat.















  
Seen from nearby the flowers look, except for their color, like miniature Dog roses. No surprise, the Spring Cinquefoil is a member of the Rose family.

Common Ball Flower

In a sunny place small blue balls appear in the sparse vegetation. The Common Ball Flower (Globularia bisnagarica) can be seen from March to May, and sometimes again at the end of the season. The small spoon-like leaves can be found all year round.



This plant is specific to dry calcareous meadows, an environment rich in flowers, especially in spring. If you find the Common Ball Flower, there is a fair chance you'll also find wild orchids.

Two-leaf Squill

Tiny blue stars under the big white Snowdrops: Two-leaf Squill (Scilla bifolia). Many bulb flowers growing in the wild originate from gardens. But this is a truly wild species.


In the picture you can see whence its name; the flower stalk rises from between two gutted leaves.

















And here 'blue' is really blue, in strong contrast with leaves and ferns around.