Rare 'naked man' orchid found in Cambridge college garden

A rare orchid with flowers resembling a naked man has been found in the garden of a Cambridge college. The plant was found by gardeners at St John's College.

Orchis simia is also known as the 'Naked Hanging Man Orchid' and the 'Monkey Orchid' because of its resemblance to a naked man or monkey. It is one of the rarest orchids native to the UK.

David Brown, Deputy Head Gardener, who found the orchid, said: "I am ecstatic, it is the find of a lifetime. I knew it was unusual when I first spotted it in the long grass, so I called over the Head Gardener and we had it verified."

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The protected species has only been identified at three locations in the UK – one in Oxfordshire and two in Kent. It can also be found in mainland Europe.

Meteorologist Jonathan Shanklin, who is the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Recorder for Cambridgeshire, and Co-President of Cambridge Natural History Society, confirmed the plant is the rare Naked Hanging Man Orchid. He said: "It is the first time I have ever seen one so I am very excited by it, it really is an astonishing find.

"The seeds can be carried hundreds of kilometres by the wind and this is thought to be the main source of sporadic occurrences in England, perhaps originating in the Paris basin. Short turf and open ground are required for seedling establishment, which sounds like exactly what it was provided with last year."

Its normal habitat is open chalk downland, although it can grow in woodland margins. The plant was found in an area of St John's that has been left unmown to encourage biodiversity and wildlife.

David Austrin, the college's Head Gardener, said: "The Latin name is Orchis simia, with simia being the Latin word for ape. They look like spider monkeys as well as a naked man 'hanging' from the flower spike."

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