Seasonal Wild Flowers

Southern Marsh-orchid

Dactylorhiza praetermissa

Orchidaceae

Late May to July

It is found throughout the country except in the far North.

It is most common in the Southwest, the South and East

Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for Southern Marsh-orchid

Southern Marsh-orchid grows in calcareous damp

meadows, marshes, dune-slacks and by roads and

paths.

It is a native, tuberous, perennial herb, growing up

to 50cm.

Flowers vary from rose-pink to purple but may fade

to pink at the end of flowering.

The sepals are spread like birds wings.

The lips are usually 3-lobed, but sometimes the

central lobe is missing. They are variably streaked

and spotted.

Leaves are broad, green and unspotted.

Leopard Marsh-orchid is a variety of the Southern

Marsh-orchid and has looped markings on the flowers

and the leaves.

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Southern Marsh-orchid, Eype, Dorset

Flower spike

Wing-like sepals, 3-lobed lips and spotted markings

Pale form with missing central lobe on the lip

Darker form

Unspotted leaves