Dactylorhiza (marsh orchid)

Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski 1937, is a genus of terrestrial (ground-dwelling) plants in the orchid family (Orchidaceae).

The name Dactylorhiza is derived from Greek words "daktylos" (finger) and "rhiza" (root), referring to the palmately two- to five-lobed tubers of this genus. Dactylorhiza were previously classified under Orchis which has two round tubers.

These orchids are distributed throughout the subarctic and temperate northern hemisphere : in Europe, from Scandinavia to North Africa; also on Madeira, Iceland, West Asia, North Asia, the Himalayas, North America and even in Alaska.

These terrestrial orchids grow in basic soils in wet meadows, bogs, heathland and in areas sparsely populated by trees. They are tuberous geophytes. In a thickened underground stem, they can store a large amount of water to survive arid conditions.

The long leaves are lanceolate and, in most species, also speckled. They grow along a rather long stem which reaches a height of 70-90 cm. Leaves higher on the stem are shorter than leaves lower on the stem.

The inflorescence, compared to the length of the plant, is rather short. It consists of a compact raceme with 25-50 flowers. These develop from axillary buds. The dominant colors are all shades of pink to red, sprinkled with darker speckles.

Many 'species' in this genus hybridise so readily that species boundaries themselves are vague, with regular name changes and no clear answers. A few species colonise very well onto fresh industrial wastes such as pulverised fuel ash, where vast hybrid swarms can appear for a decade or more, before ecological succession replaces them.


Some species
Dactylorhiza fuchsii - The Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) is a commonly occurring species of European orchid. It is widely variable in colour and height, ranging from 5 to 60 cm in height. The flower colour can vary from pale pink to pale purple to white, with purple spots and edges. The lip has three lobes.
Flowers: June-August.
Leaves: narrow lanceolate, keeled, often dark-spotted.
Distribution: grassland, on lime.

Dactylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid)

Heath Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

Dactylorhiza majalis - The western marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis; also broad-leaved marsh orchid, fan orchid, common marsh orchid) is a terrestrial European orchid. Its flowering period begins at lower elevations as early as the beginning of May and ends in higher elevations at the end of July. The lowest blossoms usually open even before the stem has reached its full height.
The western marsh orchid grows mainly in nitrogen-poor marsh areas that consist of several plant communities. More rarely, it is found in fens.

Dactylorhiza praetermissa - The Southern Marsh-orchid

Dactylorhiza purpurella (Northern Marsh-orchid)

Dactylorhiza viridis - The Frog Orchid, or Coeloglossum viride, also known as the Long-Bracted Green Orchid and Dactylorhiza viridis is a monotypic genus of the family Orchidaceae generally found within the palearctic ecozone throughout the mid to northern United States through Canada, and in the British Isles and parts of Western Europe. It is typically found growing in moist, rich soil in wet meadows, moist or wet deciduous woods and thickets, and is frequently found on steep slopes.

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