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Early Marsh-Orchid

Early Marsh-Orchid

Dactylorhiza incarnata

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How common: Very common

Early Marsh-Orchid is a sturdy, upright wetland orchid. It carries a tight head of many small pink to purple flowers with darker markings. You can find it in damp, nutrient‑rich places across much of northern Europe and elsewhere in cool regions.

Did you know?

  • The subspecies D. incarnata ssp. incarnata is protected south of the former Oulu Province.
  • The subspecies D. incarnata ssp. cruenta is protected everywhere except the Åland Islands.

About the species

Identification

Stout, upright plant 15–50 cm tall. Stem firm, sometimes purple near the top. Leaves (4–6) climb the stem; long and narrow, upright to slightly spreading, flat or with a slight ridge on the back; plain green or purple‑brown spotted; the top leaf reaches the flower head. Flower head tight and many‑flowered. Flowers small, pink to purple with darker spots and lines. The lower part of the flower is narrow and only shallowly three‑lobed, edges often rolled back, and there is a short backward‑pointing tube behind the flower. Fruits are small pods with dust‑like seeds. Heavily spotted, more spreading leaves point to the blood‑red form; the typical form has more upright, often unspotted leaves. Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

meadow, mire

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Likes nutrient‑rich fens and marshes, wet meadows, spring‑fed spots and the edges of lakes and streams. Found throughout Finland; fairly common in the Åland Islands, eastern Finland, Kainuu, Kuusamo and Ostrobothnia, and rather scarce elsewhere.

Sources

Photo: Анна Митрошенкова, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6130717482

Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Lammille - Suurisuo, Janakkala, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40068

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Dactylis-Epilobium, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40068

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40068

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punak%C3%A4mmekk%C3%A4

See also