Purple patch flower ID please!

[Darley]

These were taken around July but I only just discovered this wonderful site! I like purple flowers, but I didn't have to hunt for them - they appear to be prolific round here. I wonder if anybody can ID them all (I know two are orchids, but not what type) and also offer an explanation as to why there seem to be many times more purple than all the other colours put together? Thanks

[Lancashire Lad]

1 - Looks like Northern Marsh Orchid (but I may well be wrong).
2 - Hedge Woundwort
3 - Purple Toadflax
4 - Common (Black) Knapweed
5 - Pyramidal Orchid

Regards
Mike.

[Pete Collins]

Welcome to WAB, Darley!

I've no idea about your first photo (some orchids seem to be very hard to ID), but I agree with Lancashire Lad on the other four.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

1 - Looks like Northern Marsh Orchid (but I may well be wrong...

I've given this more thought, and am now leaning more towards Southern Marsh Orchid - If the pic is a good representation of the original colour, the Northern should be more reddish.

Do you recall, or have any pics showing more of the stem & leaves?
Northern's sometimes have brownish spots or rings on the leaves.

Regards
Mike.

Edit - Where did you take pic.1 Might help in deciding Northern or Southern.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

1 - Looks like Northern Marsh Orchid (but I may well be wrong).
2 - Hedge Woundwort
3 - Purple Toadflax
4 - Common (Black) Knapweed
5 - Pyramidal Orchid

Regards
Mike.

agree with this but...
1 common spotted orchid (possible hybrid)

and the pyramidal orchid looks a bit hybridised as well

[KeenTeen17]

1 is southern marsh orchid
2 hedge woundwort
3 purple toadflax
4 common knapweed
5 pyramidal orchid.

(I think #1 is southern marsh because of the shape of the flower and the colour)

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

(I think #1 is southern marsh because of the shape of the flower and the colour)

Nice one Keenteen.

Us Lancashire guys have to stick together. (but only when we think we're correct).

(Just a joke Leifus - really)

Regards
Mike.

[Darley]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I've given this more thought, and am now leaning more towards Southern Marsh Orchid - If the pic is a good representation of the original colour, the Northern should be more reddish.

Do you recall, or have any pics showing more of the stem & leaves?
Northern's sometimes have brownish spots or rings on the leaves.

Regards
Mike.

Edit - Where did you take pic.1 Might help in deciding Northern or Southern.

Thanks for all the replies! Firstly, I live in Devon so I'm guessing Southern is more likely? I honestly can't recall the precise colour but I haven't altered it, and have no reason to believe it isn't accurate. I do know that there are many different variations of these orchids in the area, ranging from a few inches to about 3 feet in height, and from pink to almost blue. The leaves, if I recall correctly, are almost all spotted to some extent - from a few barely visible spots to a nasty rash! As somebody else mentioned, I guess there is a degree of hybridization.

I will see if I have any other pics that might show more detail.

Thanks

[Darley]

BTW does anybody have an explanation as to why there might be so many purple flowers in one area? Is it just coincidence?

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Darley

...I live in Devon so I'm guessing Southern is more likely?...

Can't argue with that.

I don't think that Northern Marsh Orchid's range extends into Devon, so it's far more likely to be a Southern.

Some orchids do hybridise quite readily though, so I wouldn't entirely rule out Leifus's suggestion that it could be a hybrid. (Might be Southern Marsh x Pyramidal if they were in the same location). But without expert analysis no one would be absolutely sure.

Regards
Mike.

Edit - By the way, I think it's probably just coincidence that you are finding lots of purple flowers. I seem to be finding lots of yellow ones in Lancashire but all the normal plants you would expect to be in this area are here when you look for them.