Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - June 1984
Phillip Hogg

During the winter months, it is pleasant to consider the previous season' s search for new orchid colonies, whilst at the same time, looking forward to the next year's possibilities. 1983, for example, was a particularly good year for the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) at Tywyn, and with greatly above-usual numbers of Common Twayblades (Listerea ovate), within Pembrey Forest. In the Llanelli area we are lucky to have such a large orchid flora on the coastal duneland, damp slacks and calcareous pasture between Pembrey and Tywyn Point. Some fourteen species occur on the Burrows, with six other species growing elsewhere in Carmarthenshire (about 50 species are native in the British Isles).

The orchids found wild on the Burrows are smaller and less lavishly-coloured than the florists' tropical orchids, but they still retain an exquisite beauty. Another point concerning; our local orchid flora is the exciting possibility that previously unlisted species may have been overlooked, and this has prompted me to search through the orchid literature for species that may be present.

One orchid that it may be worth looking for, is the Dune Helleborine (Epipactis dunensis), a species closely allied to the Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), differing from the latter by flowering mostly in mid-July before-the majority of the Broad-leaved Helleborines. It is found on dune slacks only, though some may persist after such areas have been over-planted by conifers, this species is confined to the coastlands of North-east England around Bewick-on-Tweed, South Cumberland, Merseyside and its only Welsh station on Anglesey. There has been the suggestion by numerous authorities that South-west Wales is a possible locality for the Dune Helleborine.    Colonies are often large but this is not always the case.

For those who wish to search for this species, the field characteristics are given below:

Height 9-15 in (22-33 cm).    It is like a small, dull broad-leaved Helleborine, with a few, small, stiff, yellow-green leaves, usually in two rows. The flowers themselves are of a somewhat dingy yellow, rarely opening fully and often withering at an early stage, making them easily overlooked. The outer lip is pinkish, with a pale-green pointed tip (sometimes folded back underneath). Plants growing under trees are larger than average. 

Other species occurring on Pembrey-Tywyn Burrows are now listed:-

• Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris): quite common in damp dune slacks
• Common Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine): a colony known on a bank under Corsican Pine near Pembrey Country Park.
• Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthis spiralis) : a sizeable colony of this interesting white-flowered orchid can be seen, in autumn, on grassland at the South-west end of Banc-y-Lord. Also recorded on Pembrey Burrows.
• Fen Orchid (Liparis loesolii var. ovate): This rare orchid (only found in East Anglian fens and some of South Wales' dune slacks), has not been seen since the early 1970's at its Tywyn Burrows site, but was noted in 1983, across the water, at Laugharne Burrows near the Witchett Pool. It is also found at Whiteford, Gower.
• Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio): At least 3 strong colonies of this early-flowering and declining orchid; at Pembrey Burrows, Tywyn Burrows and near the Banc-y-Lord.
• The Marsh Orchids - Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza praetermissa, and Dactylorhiza purpurella, all occur in tie damper areas (and hybridize with each other to form intermediate plants - making them difficult to identify). Dactylorhiza fuchsii (the Common Spotted Orchid) occurs fairly often on calcareous grassland. The beautifully-scented Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and the aptly-named Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) both occur, sometimes quite commonly in the dune slacks.

The orchid season starts in late April-early May with the Green-winged Orchid and extends to September with the Autumn Lady's Tresses; early-mid July is perhaps the peak time with the R.A.F. Bombing Range and Tywyn Burrows one of the best sites, (access weekends and evenings only to bona fide naturalists). Pembrey Burrows is good also for many species.

Other species occurring elsewhere in Carmarthenshire include the Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera chlorantha and Platanthera bifolia), in old hay meadows and grassy churchyards, the rare (Myddfai and Witchett) Frog Orchid (Coelogossum viride), the Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) - quite frequent on base-rich soils e.g. on the limestone outcrop at Mynydd-y-Garreg or Mynydd Llangyndeyrn), the Heath-spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. ericetorum) common on wet, acid bogs, and lastly the Bog Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) only seen on a sphagnum bog at Cwm Twrch.

Finally two other species that may possibly occur are the Irish Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) - which in spite of its name has been seen in Devon, and the rare but widespread, Narrow-leaved Helleborine (Cephalalonthera longifolia) which often grows in acid oakwood, a habitat we have in plenty.