Golfers Rescue Rare Lizard Orchid in England

A championship golf tournament at the Royal St George’s Golf Club at Sandwich in Kent is shining a spotlight of attention on the little known Lizard Orchid, (Himantoglossum hircinum), rare in England.


The St. George Golf Club’s enlightened management also acts as a steward for several other species of orchids, as well as some other rare plants including the Clove-scented Broomrape.

Lizard Orchid Painting by Jonathan Tyler Botanical Illustrator

The Lizard Orchid is one of Britain’s tallest native orchids, standing about 24-inches (60 cm) tall on average, occasionally as much as 30 inches or 75 cm. The one shown here stood 22 inches (56 cm) The flowers are pale gray-green with purple spots and streaks. The lower lip (labellum) of the flower looks like the tail of a lizard that is diving headfirst into the flower, giving the plant it’s common name. The fragrance of the flower as been described as rancid or goatish.

The plant is widespread, across Europe and into Western Asia, but never common. It is one of Britain’s rarest plants. Seed blown across the English Channel from Northern France, where it is more abundant, is also though to play a part in the increasing occurrence of this orchid in southern Britain, which is at the northern edge of it’s range.

The Lizard Orchid has also been popping up on other golf courses in Britain. Speculation is that the almost weightless and nearly invisible seeds have attached themselves to golfers and their equipment.

Cypripedium calceolus Painting

Between the St. George Golf Club’s thoughtful attention and this ‘mysterious’ appearance at as many as 18 other golf courses the plant may soon be removed from the endangered plants list.

We may have to take back some of those disparaging remarks about golfers.

Just a comment about Jonathan Tyler’s work. If you are as impressed with his work as I am please visit his website at:Jonathan Tyler Botanical Illustrator. Here you will find more of his wonderful paintings. Yes, you can purchase limited edition prints from his website. Here’s another sample of his work.

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