Orchid ID please ?

[dmclean2]

Hi folks.
I just can't get a match for this Orchid, it's on the lip of a bank, the whole area was the spoils tip for the coal mine but has been recovering now for years, so shale is mostly the subsoil, Iv'e found Southern Marsh and Pyrimidal orchids here, (in different locations to this one)
Hope you can help
Cheers
Duncan

[davidbr]

It's a Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) - they can be pretty variable, and that's without taking hybrids into consideration

[ChrisJB]

Looks like some kind of hybrid to me, with an element of marsh orchid thrown in there somewhere.

Regards, Chris

[dmclean2]

Thanks for the info David

And you Chris

Much appreciated

Duncan

[ceterach]

Hi Duncan

I think this is simply a variant Southern Marsh, Dactylorhiza praetermissa (although it could have a touch of Common Spotted D.fuchsii in there but I don't think so). The spike and plant have all the jizz of D.praetermissa and the top flowers are almost typical too, a bit pale perhaps. The central lobe to the lip is unusual but certainly not D.fuchsii type. The colour of the lower flowers appear to be fading and so I suspect it is growing in a dryish area and is slightly stressed.

All the best

[Andy Warne]

I agree with John, Southern Marsh Orchid.

[dmclean2]

Thank you Andy and John,
Yes it is growing in a dry area, and like you my thoughts were on the Southern Marsh, but the colour didn't seem right, thats why I put it up on WAB
I never would have thought about stress in a plant, but I'm learning something new every day,
Thanks again,
Duncan

[Beekeeper]

I am confused now, i originally identified the Orchid below as Southern Marsh but judging by the other picture provided in earlier post it is not, it also does not seem to be the Common Spotted either so could it be a hybrid as well.
In this area there are several groups of these Orchids and i look forward every year to their flowering, sadly as there is a path nearby stupid people tend to pick them, it makes me really annoyed.

BK

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

I am confused now, i originally identified the Orchid below as Southern Marsh but judging by the other picture provided in earlier post it is not, it also does not seem to be the Common Spotted either so could it be a hybrid as well.
In this area there are several groups of these Orchids and i look forward every year to their flowering, sadly as there is a path nearby stupid people tend to pick them, it makes me really annoyed.

BK

Hi BK

I think this is Heath Spotted Dactylorhiza maculata. It has a wider and more "frilly" lip than Common Spotted. Is it growing in an acidic rather than alkaline habitat?

It also has the obvious notch in centre of the lip.

All the best

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by ceterach

Hi BK

I think this is Heath Spotted Dactylorhiza maculata. It has a wider and more "frilly" lip than Common Spotted. Is it growing in an acidic rather than alkaline habitat?

All the best

This looks a lot like heath spotted to me too.

Regards, Chris