Hammarbya paludosa is the smallest orchid in the UK, sometimes only 3 cm high, and is difficult to locate, both because of its size and for its green-yellow colouration, blending in with other vegetation. Its boggy habitats are also generally difficult to traverse.
Common name:
Bog orchid
Family:
Scientific name:
Hammarbya paludosa
Main flower color:
Range:
Most common in north and west Scotland; also scattered sites in England and Wales, including the New Forest, the Lake District and the Cambrian Mountains
Height:
Between 3 and 10 cm
Habitat:
Floating bogs, associated with sphagnum moss
Flowers:
Yellowish-green, around 7 mm across, with two upper sepals and one lower sepal, all similar in size, two smaller lateral petals and a slightly larger lip, which points upwards rather than down, as is usually the case for orchid flowers. Flowers are positioned in an elongated cluster, covering up to 5 cm at the top of the hairless stem
Leaves:
Ovate, upwards-pointing, curved inwards, up to 1 cm long; one at the base and two to four along the lower portion of the stem
Season:
July to September
Rarity:
★★★★★
