The 20 hectare orchid meadow Lohrsdorf, owned by the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, is the largest and most populous occurrence of numerous endangered orchid species in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. The meadow is on a steep slope above the new Bad Bodendorf cemetery. A warm south-facing climate and a several meters thick layer of lime-rich loess enable a special flora and fauna with many Mediterranean elements. The site conditions are ideal on the terraced slopes, on which once vines and then fruit trees grew: the loess soil, on which many other rare plant species thrive in addition to orchids, is dry, barren and poor in nutrients. Three boards along the red wine hiking trail provide information about the biodiversity of the orchid meadows.
More than 15 types of orchids are native to the Lohrsdorf orchid meadow:
+ the large two-leaf
+ the forest hyacinth
+ Pyramidal dogwort (Anacamptis pyramidalis)
Plant species believed to be extinct have reappeared as the most astonishing and unexpected development; For example, since 1997, the orchid hanging man (Aceras anthropophorum) and the buck's strap tongue (Himanthoglossum hircinum) have only been found in individual specimens. However, the latter species has disappeared again in the last few years.
Ragwort species also thrive there: bees and fly arrows are among those orchids whose flowers imitate the bodies, wings and antennae of insects. In addition, the orchid surrounds itself with an irresistible perfume in the form of pheromones - with the result that the males of the insects perform a mock copulation on the flower lip and pollinate the plant in the process.
In addition to orchids, the cypress milkweed, the horned horn and the buck's belt tongue also thrive in the nature reserve. Another rare plant species is native there, the fringed gentian.
As for the bird world in the Lohrsdorfer Meadows area, there are still rare and endangered redstart, red-backed redstart, green woodpecker, small woodpecker, tree pipit, blackcap and wryneck. For little owls and wrynecks, knotholes in the old fruit trees offer ideal retreat and breeding opportunities.