Giant orchids first appeared in the UK

While walking on a slope near his house, a resident in the county of Oxfordshire came across a beautiful orchid that can grow up to 1m tall.

Native to the Mediterranean basin of southern Europe, giant orchids (Himantoglossum robertianum) are thought to be expanding their range northwards due to a warming climate, with records suggesting they may have exist in France and the Netherlands.

Giant orchid Himantoglossum robertianum.

According to a new article published in the Guardian on April 1, biologists confirm this beautiful flower has appeared in the wild for the first time in the UK. It was found by medical intern Hamza Nobes (29) while walking on a slope near his home in the town of Didcot, Oxfordshire. The specific location was not disclosed.

"It's strange because a few weeks ago, I was looking at a book about European orchids and knew about the giant orchid. I was mesmerized by its beauty and thought it would be great if one day I could see it with my own eyes. , maybe in Greece or something, but unexpectedly it was only 10 minutes walk from my house," Nobes recounted.

Giant orchid for fragrant burgundy flowers.

As the name suggests, giant orchids can grow up to 1m tall. It has broad leaf blades and produces large, burgundy, fragrant flowers. "It's a very noble flower," said Professor Ian Denholm at Britain's University of Hertfordshire.

Some biologists believe that Himantoglossum robertianum was introduced to England through invasive species, in the same way it appeared in the Netherlands, but others suspect someone spread their seeds in Oxfordshire. In any case, the giant orchid is reproducing naturally and forming a small population in the UK, with a total of 19 plants found, of which nine are flowering.

Giant orchids are not native plants in the UK, so there is no law to protect them. So orchid enthusiasts like Nobes are reaching out to the Botanical Society of Great Britain and Ireland to discuss ways to conserve the species.