Plants

Irish Lady's Tresses Orchid

Irish Lady's Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes romanzoffiana)

Irish Lady's-tresses is a small cream orchid with grass-like leaves which in Europe, is confined to Ireland, western Scotland, and south Devon. The later colony in Devon has not been seen for eight years and is believed to be extinct. In the UK, the species was first recorded at Brackagh Bog NNR in Northern Ireland in 1892. It has since been recorded at 14 sites in Northern Ireland, mainly fens and wet grasslands around Lough Neagh including Montiaghs Moss NNR and Lough Beg NNR. In recent years, Irish Lady's-tresses has disappeared from a number of historical sites around Lough Neagh and there is concern that it may be threatened by changing management practices in these areas. However, the plant also occurs in flushed grasslands and heaths in County Antrim, where the species appears to doing well.

In Northern Ireland Irish Lady's-tresses is specially protected by Schedule 8 of the Wildlife Order. It has been identified as a Priority Species in the UK and in Northern Ireland because of its rarity and decline in distribution. A UK Species Action Plan for Irish Lady's-tresses has already been produced and an All Ireland action plan is currently being drafted to further ensure the protection of this very special orchid.

Click here to view a distribution map of the Irish Lady's Tresses Orchid in Northern Ireland.