| Re: Is this an Orchid...if so what one?
Debs,
it would be interesting to have seen the leaves of this. Do you have another photograph?
I agree with Neil that it is a Northern Marsh Orchid, but it is paler than the usual version and I think it might be a variant that occurs in a few scattered sites up the west coast, including the Outer Hebrides, also at at least one site on the north coast and in Denmark. The most recent name for this variant is Dactylorhiza purpurella var. cambrensis.
Apart from the paler colour and slightly different markings on the lower lip of the flower, this variety has spotted leaves, while the most common variety of purpurella does not. Note that without seeing the leaves I am not giving this as a definite ID of cambrensis.
Classification and names of the marsh orchids changes constantly, with strong disagreements between different researchers, but recent DNA work has moved us towards what might be a more stable understanding. Maybe.
Alan |