Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) are the most common UK orchids but they occur only rarely on the Wildlife Site. We had not noticed Orchids here until 2017 but have seen a few every year since then. These beautiful flowers have been recorded from June to July towards the bottom of the hay meadows, Fields 1 and 2, and also in the adjacent field next to Bankhall Drive. The first seen were isolated individuals but more recently they have sometimes occurred as small groups of rather poor small specimens.
The central lobe of the lower lip of the Common Spotted Orchid flower is slightly longer than the other lobes, the flowers are pale purple-lilac and, as its name indicates, its leaves have dark spots. The Southern Marsh Orchid is a deeper purple, the lobes on the lower lip are less pronounced and the leaves are not spotted.
Photographs of Orchids
Click on the photograph for larger images and captions.
Further Information
For further information on the species in this group, please click the links below:
Common Spotted Orchid Southern Marsh Orchid
