Posted by : Muhammad Khalid
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Dactylorhiza
fuchsii, the
common spotted
orchid, is a common species of Eurosiberian orchid. It is widely
variable in colour and height, ranging from 15 to 60 cm in height. The
dense and rich-flowered inflorescence, produced in June to August, is at first
conical then cylindrical. The flower colour can vary from white to pale purple
with purple spots, a symmetrical pattern of dark purple loops or dots and
dashes. The lip has three lobes. The bracts are usually shorter than the
flower. The lip is smaller than that of the very similar
Dactylorhiza maculata and has three
deeper cuts. The middle lobe is more than half as large as a lateral lobe. Some
colonies are highly perfumed, attractive to day-flying moths. The leaves are
narrow lanceolate, keeled and often dark-spotted.
Source