These orchids are quite common in Cheshire and we had a stand over over 500 together Dactylorhiza fuschii (Common Spotted Orchid) and the hybrid between D. fuschii and D. praetermissa growing together locally. I went to look for them last year and they had virtually all gone and the hybrids, which would reach over a metre in height, had totally disappeared. Theft I'm afraid not global warming or habitat destruction.
Like many of the marsh orchids, they are quite variable and I don't think I've seen many with such a reflexed labellum as is present in some of the florets on this one. I look for the prominent bracts, the spotty pattern on and shape of the labellum, the thick spur and the size of the plant which is usually twice or even four times the size of a D. incarnata.The other thing which books don't tell you is that D. praetermissa can be quite early flowering - I have found them in flower on May 5th but Early marsh-orchid (D. incarnata) isn't necessarily early flowering at all. At Newborough Warren the D. incarnata ssp coccinea for example are at their best in mid June.
Frodsham marshes 6th June 2005
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Added on 6th June 2005