Most specimens of dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides are ssp traunsteinerioides; the rare ssp lapponica, found only in western Scotland, differs in having greenish bracts, spotted leaves and more pronounced markings on the flower lip.
Common names:
Narrow-leaved marsh orchid, Pugsley's marsh orchid
Family:
Scientific name:
Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered locations, including northwest Scotland, East Anglia, northwest Wales and the Yorkshire Moors
Height:
Up to 50 cm
Habitat:
Marshes, fens and dune slacks
Flowers:
Sepals and petals are pink to pinkish purple. Lateral sepals are spreading, while the middle sepal is positioned above the two upper petals. The lower petal is whitish at the centre, marked with pink dots, and is shallowly divided into three lobes, the middle longer and narrower that the other two. Bracts are uniformly purplish. The inflorescence is a small, relatively open cluster at the top of the stem, typically of eight to ten flowers
Leaves:
Narrowly lanceolate, keeled, usually unmarked; may have a few small purple dots near the tip. Few in number, usually three to five
Season:
May to June
Rarity:
★★★★★
