Chimonanthus praecox (Calychantaceae) 001 24

Chimonanthus Chimonanthus praecox, also known as winterswee and Japanese allspice, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Chimonanthus of the family Calycanthaceae, native to China.

It is a vigorous deciduous shrub growing to 4 m tall with an erect trunk and leaves 5–29 cm long and 2–12 cm broad. Its strongly scented pendent flowers, produced in winter on bare stems, have 15-21 yellow or pale green-yellow, tepals, the inner ones usually with purplish red pigments.

Tags:   Garden flowers 2024 Botany Calycanthaceae Calycanthus

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Barlia robertiana (Orchidaceae) 076 24

This unmistakeable orchid grows to over a meter in height. Although widespread throughout the Mediterranean region it is localised and rare except in Rhodes, where it can occur in particularly large colonies. In recent years, it may be that the higher temperatures resulting from global warming enable the Giant Orchid to extend its territory.
Everything about this orchid is big, from the robust stem, the large leaves that clasp the stem, and the massive flowers that are arranged in a dense spike. The strongly fragrant flowers are very variable in colour, from white-and-green combinations to dark pink and purple with strong lip markings. The lip is divided into three lobes, with the central lobe being subdivided again.
This orchid usually growing in open ground with alkaline substrate and it can also appear in open woodland and old olive groves; it likes plenty of sunshine.
This orchid flowers very early in the year - from the end of February to the beginning of April.

References sources
The Plant List
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black

Tags:   Botany 2024 Botany Wildflowers Orchidaceae Barlia

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