Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 22 Jun 2007

(Subspecies purpurella.) The Northern Marsh-orchid is one of the two most common orchid species in Scotland (the other being Heath Spotted-orchid). There is a corresponding Southern Marsh-orchid, which is very similar, but which does not occur in Scotland. The Northern Marsh-orchid occurs as two subspecies in Scotland (the other subspecies, majaliformis, has heavily-spotted leaves, and the lip of its flower is more distinctly three-lobed; it is also much more limited in its geographical range, not occurring anywhere near this area). The lip of the flower is barely lobed, so that it appears almost diamond-shaped, and the colouring of the flower is very dark. The preferred habitat for this species is damp areas with a neutral pH. [Note on classification: the discussion here follows "Wild Orchids of Scotland" (Allan, Woods, Clark; HMSO, 1993), which differs very slightly from the treatment in "New Flora of the British Isles" (Stace; 2nd ed., Cambridge U.P., 1997), but more accurately reflects the current understanding of the two Scottish subspecies of Northern Marsh-orchid.]

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