Common name:
Military orchid
Family:
Scientific name:
Orchis militaris
Main flower color:
Range:
Three UK locations, in Suffolk and Buckinghamshire
Height:
Up to 45 cm
Habitat:
Short calcareous grassland
Flowers:
The inflorescence is a dense cluster, of up to several dozen flowers. The three sepals form a hood, pinkish-grey outside, deeper pink inside, and enclosing the two narrow, linear upper petals. The lower petal, or lip, is human-like in outline, with two 'arms' and two 'legs', all similar in width and length. The lip is purplish around the margin, white towards the centre, and its upper surface is sparsely covered by tufts of short, purple hairs
Leaves:
Broadly ovate, unspotted, glossy green, up to 5 cm across and 15 cm long; in a basal rosette and sheathing the lower portion of the stem
Season:
May to June
Rarity:
★★★★★
