Orchids

Early Purple Orchid

The Early Purple Orchid can be found growing in spring. The bright flowers attract insects such as bees and wasps to them which help in the fertilisation process.

Betsey Hickey

Early Purple Orchid
Betsey Hickey

Early Purple Orchid

The Early Purple Orchid can be found growing in spring. The bright flowers attract insects such as bees and wasps to them which help in the fertilisation process.

Betsey Hickey

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Green-winged Orchid

A number of rare plants can be found in County Carlow including the green-winged orchid. Not only is this plant rare in Carlow it is rare nationally.

Early purple orchid

Growing in association with lesser celandine, hogweed, brambles and ferns the early purple orchid as its name implies can be found growing in spring. The flowers of orchids have adapted to attract insects such as bees and wasps to them. When bees and wasps visit the orchid flower, pollen contained in sticky sacs (pollinia), sticks to their heads and they inadvertently carry it to another flower and fertilise it.