Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Table of Contents
The common spotted-orchid takes its name from its leaves, which are green and covered with many purple spots. However it’s most striking feature are the flowers that are noted for their intricate beauty.
Plant family: Orchidaceae
Aliases; Fushcia orchid,
Flowering period: May – August
Flower colour: White, pink, purple
Preferred soil type: Moist, well drained
Habitat: Woodland, meadows, sand dunes, marshes, roadside verges, hedgerows
Status: Common
General information
The Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii is a perennial herbaceous wildflower and a member of the Orchidaceae family and is arguably the most common orchid found in the UK. This attractive orchid is native to the UK, most of Europe, parts of Asia and Africa.
This plant typically grows to a height ranging from 20 to 60 centimeters. The height is often dependent on environmental conditions such as soil quality, available light and soil moisture content.
These Orchids grow in a variety of environments including grassland, marshland, meadows, roadside verges, open woodland and wetlands. They thrive on most soil pH types, although they possibly have a preference for calcareous soils, indicating this plants adaptability to grow in different conditions.
Identification
Flower: The flowers grow in dense spikes, each has a three-lobed lip with very distinct pink or purple spots and stripes. The structure of the flowers are designed to aid the pollination of key pollinators.
Leaves: The leaves are a vivid green colour with many purple-brown spots (this is how it takes its name). They form as a basal rosette and are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate (lanced to oval shaped).
Value for wildlife
Common spotted orchid flowers are pollinated by a various insects, including bees and butterflies, which visit to feed on the rich source of nectar and the aesthetically attractive markings on the flowers.
Common spotted orchid gallery
Click image to enlarge
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to use, share and adapt any of the images on this page, under the condition we receive a followed backlink to our website https://diversegardens.co.uk as the image source.
