Pink, Marsh & Spotted Orchids
What are they?
This is a relatively large group of orchids that typifies many species of terrestrial orchids in Europe. Flower spikes are compact and upright with flowers mostly densely packed in the spikes (a few species are a little more open in their spikes). The flowers tend to have relatively large and showy lower petals (the labellum) with the petal often richly patterned with spots or streaks. Most species have at least some basal leaves evident at flowering time.
Where are they found?
These are mostly plants of open, grassy places, wither on dry, chalky soils or in wet meadows.
Identification
The identification of many species is straightforward and involves details of the overall shape of the flower and the shape and markings of the labellum. The length or shape of the spur at the back of the flower can be useful in some species, while other species may show either spots on the leaves or a hooded tip to the leaf. Despite this, the Dactylorhiza orchids present one of the most difficult identification problems in our region, partly because of their variability but mostly because of their tendency to hybridise with each other. Many sites, especially in Norfolk, now contain 'hybrid swarms' created through initial hybridisation by two species, followed by continued hybridisation of fertile hybrids with each other and with the original parent species (back-crossing). The result is a complex of forms that often defy reliable identification in the field, especially as the original parent species can sometimes completely disappear and thus not be present on site to assist identification of the hybrids.
A few hybrids are included on a separate page (click here), but the parentage of such species can sometimes only be guessed at, based on the combination of features that are presented.
Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis
Native. Widespread throughout much of the area but absent from the Fens and broadland as well as the arable heartland of the region. Found in a wide range of dry, chalky grasslands, from roadside verges to calcareous coastal dunes. Flowers May to July. A showy species, with rich, rose-pink flowers which sometimes have paler centres or may rarely be all white. Flower spikes are broadly pyramidal as the flowers start to open at the base, becoming more rounded over time and resembling the shape of an old bee skep.
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Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea
Native. Once more common in our region but now rare and present at less than 10 sites on damp to dry, calcareous grassland. Flowers May to July. Produces a relatively tall but narrow spike of small, sickly-sweet, long-spurred flowers. When viewed face-on, the side wings of the flowers tend to droop downward slightly (rather than horizontal) and the labellum is about as wide as it is long.
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Marsh Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia densiflora
Native. Once more common in our region but now rare and present at about 10 sites in damp, calcareous wetlands. Flowers May to July. Produces a relatively tall but narrow spike of small, clove-scented, long-spurred flowers. When viewed face-on, the side wings of the flowers are held horizontally and the labellum is typically wider than long.
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Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Native. Widespread throughout much of the area in grassy places, including woodland rides and roadsides, on chalky to neutral soils. Flowers June to August. Typical plants are readily identified by the clearly three-lobed labellum, with the central lobe relatively large and the side lobes having distinctly squared corners. Leaves lightly to quite heavily blotched with angular spots.
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Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata
Native. Widespread in acidic bogs and grasslands, especially near the Suffolk coast and the Norfolk central heaths and greensand bogs. Flowers May to July. Typical plants are identified by the three-lobed labellum, with the central lobe relatively small and tooth-like and the side lobes broadly rounded. Leaves lightly to quite heavily blotched with rounded spots.
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Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. incarnata
Native. Widely scattered across the region in damp grassland and fens. Flowers May to June. Flowers dull, pale pink with darker markings; narrow, with the labellum folded back down the midline. Leaves unspotted with a keeled tip.
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Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea
Native. Rare, with about five sites scattered along the Norfolk coast, including on cliffs succeptible to loss through land slip and erosion. Flowers May to June. Flowers dull, brick-red with darker markings; narrow, with the labellum folded back down the midline. Leaves unspotted with a keeled tip.
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Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. ochroleuca
Native. extremely rare, confined to just three calcareous fens in the entire UK, all within East Anglia. Flowers late May to early July. Flowers ivory-white without markings; narrow, with the labellum folded back down the midline. Leaves unspotted with a keeled tip. A highly vulnerable species due to drying out of favoured habitats and - sadly - through theft of plants.
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Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa
Native. Widespread in calcareous marshes and grasslands, especially in Norfolk and Suffolk. Flowers June to July. Typical plants are identified by the three-lobed labellum, with the central lobe small and often indistinct and the side lobes broadly rounded and often turned up at the edges. Leaves unmarked or sometimes heavily blotched with rounded spots; stem leaves often with a slightly keeled tip.
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Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides
Native. A rare and enigmatic species of good quality, wet fens, perhaps now only in less than 10 sites in Norfolk and Suffolk. Flowers May to June. Typical plants are identified by their small size, with usually less than 15 flowers and an overall delicate look. The three-lobed labellum has a distinctly long central lobe and the side lobes are broadly rounded. Leaves unmarked, narrow and few in number (typically 3-5 stem leaves without an obvious basal rosette). This species seems to be threatened by drying out of its habitats and subsequent encrouchment by, and hybridisation with, Southern marsh Orchid.
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Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula
Native. Widespread and still reasonably frequent in woodland clearings, rides and on road verges. Flowers April to June. A very variable species with flowers ranging from white to deep crimson-purple and often bicoloured. Leaves usually heavily blotched with rounded spots but sometimes unmarked (especially in white-flowered individuals).
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Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio
Native. Widespread but confined to good quality, unimproved grassland and most frequent in Suffolk on the heavier boulder clay soils, especially on well-managed village greens and protected meadows. Flowers May to June. A very variable species with flowers ranging from white to pinkish-purple and often bicoloured. The two upper petals are clearly marked with greenish veins. Leaves unspotted.
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Military Orchid Orchis militaris
Native. Very rare, with less than five sites in the UK and just a single site in Suffolk, where it was first discovered in 1954. Flowers late May to early June. Easily recognised by the distinctive flower shape, somewhat resembling a small person wearing an ancient battle helmet.
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Burnt Orchid Neotinea ustulata
Native. A plant of short grassland on chalky soils, last recorded in East Anglia in 1955. Flowers May to June. A tiny species, often no more than 10cm in height. Flower spikes are darkened towards the top, giving the English name.
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