Unidentified plant in the lawn.

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, I've been gardening for years , I'm hoping for some help identifying a plant.
I've left an area of lawn for a couple of years to try and get a bit of meadow going, which is going quite nicely.

However I've noticed this plant in the last few days and have no idea what it is. It's about 10-15cm tall.
Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance.

 

Hi @KeefyD and welcome! Our super expert identifier is @Silver surfer and they may be along shortly, but to me it looks like one of the rarer hardy orchids that is totally parasitic (ie no chlorophyll) and just comes up to flower (ghost orchid). Of course, this may be just because I like to grow orchids and am predisposed to see them! It may just be a marestail...Probably worth taking more photos when it flowers

 

Hi Caroline.
Thanks for that and for the welcome!
I had hoped it might be an orchid, that would be nice.
I did think it might be parasitic, no leaves and no green.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it.

It's nice to see new things appearing as I leave the area to it's own devices, you never know what lies dormant.

I just hope it will be a welcome guest..

Edited to add: a friend has suggested Common Broomrape which also looks like a contender. I've never come across it before and I still don't know if I should welcome it or worry about it. I tend towards letting things be.

 

Hi KeefyD - well the broomrape is hemiparasitic too, so it's interesting anyway! I've been reading up about developing a meadow, and http://britishorchids.co.uk/ seem to have been doing it. Also thegardenimpressionists - I visited their garden in snowdrop season, and separately attended a talk they gave about developing their own meadow - it takes some care!

 

Eeeck!
How exciting.
Adding your image larger


Not a subject I know much about.
I found this list for UK...didn't realise we had so many.
Maybe when it develops it will be easier to pin down.
Plant Finder | Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora

 

Coincidentally, I've just read that article about meadows at britishorchids after you mentioned orchids.

Very interesting reading and thankfully, I'm reassured that I'm on the right track.

I'll take a look at the other site you mentioned, thanks.

 

Well I'm relieved it's not too obvious what I have.

I shall definitely keep an eye on it and post pics as it develops.

 

Just an update to say:
Not much more has happened yet but it continues to grow and fatten up, looks like it's ready to flower soon..

 

Excellent clear pic.
Nurture it.
We await it fully open.

 

The trouble is that looking on the web, broomrape flowers look very similar to orchid ones superficially. So @KeefyD, please try to get in very close to the individual flowers - it will help.

 

Okee doke, will do, I'll give it a bit of time and get some more shots.

 

It's starting to open now and show a bit of colour..

I've included this picture for more close up detail as requested. (My image is higher resolution than this but it appears that photos get compressed/reduced when uploaded. I've cropped it to keep the file size down. )



I'll wait until it's fully open for the next photo.

 

Very interesting. Orchids make up the largest family of plants worldwide. Great photos KeefyD.

What concerns me is. The photo clearly shows the stem to be covered with tiny hairs. My experience with orchids, especially wild ones is. The stems are smooth, also the leaf pattens vary. Sadly no leaves are visible here.
At first sight, minus my glasses I thought...Bistort, but no.
Marjorie Blamey's Wilf flowers of Britain & Northern Europe has several plates. I really am excited to see the final result.

 

I didn't know that, that's amazing.

These hairs look quite sticky, I don't think the photos show that very well.

I was lucky enough to spend 10 years coppicing an ancient woodland. A fascinating and really rewarding experience. There was such an an abundance of flora and fauna but one of the things that always excited us was finding orchids.
You never know what lays dormant waiting for its moment.

A small part of me had hoped this might be one but it's not looking likely.

But.. It's nice to find something I've not seen before.

I had to place a cane near this today. I was plug planting a cornfield mix that I've grown from seed, into the 'meadow' and despite being very careful I had a moment where I thought: 'Oh, hang on, where is it?' Two inches from my foot. Eek!

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Although some years past. I worked in an ancient woodland. Oxleas, Jack-wood and Castle woods. In SE London. To the staff. It wa simply a job. A pay packet at the end of the week. To me. It was a scientist haven.