Marsh Orchid?

[jezlee]

Hello all - I'm certainly no expert on flowers, but even I know this is an orchid! But which one? Perhaps a Marsh Orchid, or even a Southern Marsh Orchid? If it's any help, it was photographed near Sheringham, in North Norfolk about 3 weeks ago.



Oops, nearly forgot - I also photographed this one at the same spot:

[Dorts]

Jez.
1. is almost certainly a Southern Marsh x Common Spotted hybrid, Dactylorhiza x grandis (D. fuchsii x praetermissa). A very common hybrid.
2. is a Common Spotted Orchid - Dactyorhiza fuchsii.
Dorts.

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Jez.
1. is almost certainly a Southern Marsh x Common Spotted hybrid, Dactylorhiza x grandis (D. fuchsii x praetermissa). A very common hybrid.
2. is a Common Spotted Orchid - Dactyorhiza fuchsii.
Dorts.

Thanks, Dorts! Re 1, Is this a deliberate hybridisation, or does it just happen naturally in the wild?

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by jezlee

Thanks, Dorts! Re 1, Is this a deliberate hybridisation, or does it just happen naturally in the wild?

It happens perfectly naturally among this group of very closely related orchids.
Dorts.

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Dorts

It happens perfectly naturally among this group of very closely related orchids.
Dorts.

Thanks, Dorts - very interesting! I didn't realise that this sort of cross-propogating goes on in the wild ...