Common name:
Northern marsh orchid
Family:
Scientific name:
Dactylorhiza purpurella
Main flower color:
Range:
Scotland, northern England and parts of west/southwest Wales
Height:
Up to 40 cm
Habitat:
Damp grassland
Flowers:
Rich reddish purple, with a cupped middle sepal and spreading outer sepals. The lip is approximately diamond-shaped, with a narrow central ridge, rounded wings and a smaller, rounded central lobe; it is crossed by thick red lines and dots. The flower cluster is relatively wide and short - around 4 cm across and 6 cm high
Leaves:
Narrowly lanceolate, up to 10 cm long, green or purplish, often spotted near the tip
Season:
June to July
Rarity:
★★★★★
