June’s downlands once bloomed with orchids—now rare treasures like bee orchids (that mimic mates) and fragrant orchids cling to survival. Meanwhile, truffles hide beneath beechwoods and giant puffballs swell in the heat. Return on 08 June to uncover these fleeting wonders before they fade.
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Orchids
Patches of downland covered in orchids where Londoners can picnic among them is an image almost totally relegated to the past. The decline of London’s orchids in the last century is close to catastrophic. Even so, thankfully there are still orchids to be seen this month. Those associated with June are the marsh orchids Dactylorhiza spp., white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium, the fragrant orchid Gymnadenia cnopsea, bee orchid Ophrys apifera and slim possibilities of greater butterfly Platanthera chlorantha, musk Herminium monorchis, slender-lipped helleborine Epipactis leptochila and heath spotted Dactylorhiza maculata.
To see them it is necessary to spend some time looking in their preferred habitats. Good areas include Box Hill, High Elms, Farthing Down, Saltbox hill, Hutchinson’s Bank and Darwin’s bank at Downe. Old beechwoods near Box Hill and High Elms are places to look for white helleborines and marshy ground on Ashtead Common for Southern marsh orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa.
Large numbers of common twayblade Listera ovata can still be seen at Happy Valley by Farthing down. The fragrant orchid is still reasonably well distributed as it can survive disturbance better than other orchids. Fortunately, bee orchids can turn up almost anywhere as their seeds are so tiny they get carried by the wind everywhere. In Darwin’s time these orchids were seen in their thousands in Beddlestead Valley.
Bee orchids are unusual in taking as little as three years to grow from seed to producing their first flower. Equally unusual are their highly sculpted pollen grains. Darwin was particularly interested in their pollination mechanism, which involves the flowers mimicking female bees. They even produce similar pheromones to entice the males. Oddly they are believed to not self pollinate abroad but apparently are happy to do so here.
The heath spotted orchid may possibly still be found on Bookham Common. The slender-lipped helleborine is very rare, preferring the deepest shade in beechwoods. The greater butterfly orchid may still be holding on in the Westerham area as the musk orchid is on Box Hill. The marsh orchids freely hybridise, giving rise to a host of different and attractive colour patterns on their petals. Ashtead Common may still hold some interesting hybrids. Waltham Abbey is a place where early marsh orchids might be found and a Fragrant orchid hybrid has been found on Farthing down.
Fungi
A dry June sees few fungi encouraged to produce their fruiting bodies. Dryad’s saddle Polyporus squamosus, giant puffball Calvatia gigantea and some other brackets are increasing in size.
Very common species such as the fairy ring mushroom Marasmius oreades and sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasciculare can always be found unless it is exceptionally dry. If June is wet there is a much greater chance of seeing large, edible Agaricus spp. which quickly increase in size in gardens. On decaying wood, slime moulds and some inkcaps Coprinus spp. may also make an opportunistic appearance. In gardens, hollyhocks succumb to eye-catching rusts as well as grasses, thistles and even coltsfoot.
In beechwoods, the first of the edible Boletus spp. may be appearing and below the leaf litter the much prized summer truffle Tuber aestivum lies totally concealed from London’s eager foragers. Slopes in beechwoods with a friable soil, not unlike the surface of a truffle itself, are places where they may lie hidden.
In beechwoods, the first of the edible Boletus spp. may be appearing and below the leaf litter the much prized summer truffle Tuber aestivum lies totally concealed from London’s eager foragers. Slopes in beechwoods with a friable soil, not unlike the surface of a truffle itself, are places where they may lie hidden.
