Is this a Early Purple Orchid x with Green Winged Orchid

[birderbryan]

Can you help please. I never gave this a thought until recently being told about at the place where I photographed this, it is known by certain recorders that a hybrid cross between Early Purple Orchid and Green Winged Orchid does exist at this particular site.

I took these photos at a well known "Green Winged" venue in Lancashire on 6th May 2010).

At one end of the site there is a full bank of Green Winged Orchids and within about 40ft of the GW colony there was this "stand alone" orchid (photos shown here), which at the time I just took to be a Early Purple Orchid, then not knowing anything about hybrids in these two species, but now when I think about it, I am beginning to wonder whether mine here is a possible hybrid.

Along with the Green Winged, the main colony of EPO at this site are about 400 yards+ away from the Green Winged Orchids area, whereby this particular "stand alone" pictured here was so close (within 40ft) to the GWO which where out and in full flower at the time.

Now when I think back I perhaps did think it a little strange about this particular lonesome orchid, which did appear different to me in so much that the size was more in line with Early Purples, but with this one the leaves where not marked which you usually get with EPO

Any help in this would be much appreciated.

Bryan.

[Dorts]

Hi Bryan.
Your plant is a not uncommon 'blousy'(my term), form of Early Purple Orchid, a species which can be very variable. The lack of spots on the leaves is also not that uncommon.

The hybrid you mention between Early Purple and Green-winged ,(x Anacamptorchis morioides), is very rare and sporadic which, apart from a couple of records, has only been found in a narrow line from the Wash to the Bristol Channel.

There are no recent records of this hybrid, and it's not a plant I have seen, but you can be sure it would have noticable green-veins on the sepals.
Dorts.