2007

NS5073 : Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

taken 17 years ago, near to Faifley, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)
Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)
(Subspecies purpurella.)

The Northern Marsh-orchid is one of the two most common orchid species in Scotland (the other being Heath Spotted-orchid). There is a corresponding Southern Marsh-orchid, which is very similar, but which does not occur in Scotland.

The Northern Marsh-orchid occurs as two subspecies in Scotland (the other subspecies, majaliformis, has heavily-spotted leaves, and the lip of its flower is more distinctly three-lobed; it is also much more limited in its geographical range, not occurring anywhere near this area).

The lip of the flower is barely lobed, so that it appears almost diamond-shaped, and the colouring of the flower is very dark. The preferred habitat for this species is damp areas with a neutral pH.

[Note on classification: the discussion here follows "Wild Orchids of Scotland" (Allan, Woods, Clark; HMSO, 1993), which differs very slightly from the treatment in "New Flora of the British Isles" (Stace; 2nd ed., Cambridge U.P., 1997), but more accurately reflects the current understanding of the two Scottish subspecies of Northern Marsh-orchid.]

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Lairich Rig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Grassland Plant: Northern Marsh-Orchid Image Buckets ?: Closeup Life Place: Faifley Category: Wild flowers other tags: Orchid Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Flower [3] Other Photos: · Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) ·
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NS5073, 85 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Lairich Rig   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Friday, 22 June, 2007   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 17 August, 2008
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 507 731 [100m precision]
WGS84: 55:55.7081N 4:23.3864W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 507 731
View Direction
North-northwest (about 337 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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