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Heath Spotted-Orchid
Dactylorhiza maculata
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Dactylorhiza maculata is a wild orchid with spotted leaves and pink to purple flowers. It is widespread across much of Europe and extends into parts of northern Asia, including Siberia. The species is most often noticed in early to mid-summer when its flower spikes are in bloom in moist, open to semi-shaded places.
Did you know?
- The name Dactylorhiza comes from Greek words meaning finger root, referring to its forked underground tubers.
- Its leaf and flower markings are highly variable, which can make it tricky to tell apart from closely related orchids.
About the species
Identification
A slender, erect orchid with a few to several narrow, lance-shaped leaves that often bear purple or wine-red spots and sheath the stem. The inflorescence is a short to medium spike of pink to purplish (sometimes pale) flowers; each has a three-lobed lip marked with darker dots and loops and a narrow spur behind. Fruits are slender capsules that release dust-like seeds. It typically flowers in early to mid-summer; look for the combination of spotted leaves and a speckled, three-lobed lip to distinguish it from similar orchids.
Plant group
Herbaceous plants
Habitat
mire
Flowering
Jun–Jul
About the habitat
Grows in moist to wet habitats such as bog margins, wet meadows, damp heaths, and the edges of marshy woodlands, often on nutrient-poor, acidic soils. It can also occur along stream and lake margins where the ground stays damp.
Sources
Photo: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dactylorhiza fuchsii Mariazell 01.JPG
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maariank%C3%A4mmekk%C3%A4
