Dark, Intense Coloured Orchids of the Western Isles - The Marsh Orchids |
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Widespread |
Very rare and unlikely find |
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Early Marsh-orchid
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Early Marsh -orchid subsp. coccinea
Large picture
Early Marsh Orchid |
Northern Marsh-orchid
Large picture
Northern Marsh Orchid |
Broad-leaved Marsh-orchid |
Western Marsh-orchid
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Lapland Marsh Orchid |
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Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. incarnata |
Dactylorhiza incarnata. subsp. coccinea |
Dactylorhiza purpurella |
Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. occidentalis |
Dactylorhiza majaliformis subsp. scoticia |
Dactylorhiza lapponica |
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Very deep flesh-pink, pinkish, pale purple,
(white very occasionally)
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Deep scarlet, sometimes described as brick-red, crimson or ruby (uniquely so in orchids) fades a little as the as season progresses
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Very deep red-purple to magenta, sometimes described as deep-wine purple (Occasionally very deep pink)
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Pinkish purple to purplish-lilac |
Reddish purple
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Reddish-purple to reddish-violet |
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Cyclindrical flower-head |
Stocky little orchid |
Dense oblong flower-head. Sturdy plant |
Dense, oval flowerheads |
Fairly flat-topped flowerhead |
Loose conical flowerheads |
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Dunes or marsh by sea, machair
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Only on dunes and machair
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Dunes or marsh and fields by sea, machair and high ground
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Dunes or marsh by sea, machair
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Very rare only the one North Uist population in UK
Dune to machair region |
Very rare only one Isle of Harris population
Basic hill-flushes |
Florets
click photographs for larger version |
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Bottom part of flower is slightly 3-lobed and overall shape often quite pointed
Left and right lobes are pulled tightly backwards
(relexed) making the floret look more rectangular and narrow
Markings red double-loop with dots and lines inside or purple spots |
Bottom part of flower is slightly 3-lobed and overall shape often quite pointed
Left and right lobes are pulled tightly backwards
(relexed) making the floret look more rectangular and narrow
Markings red double-loop with dots and lines inside |
Bottom part of the flower diamond-shaped and heavily marked with
looped or dashed markings
Sometimes shallowly 3-lobed or almost un-lobed
The lip curling back upwards is a Northern marsh-orchid trait
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Lip of bottom part of flower is broad and has 3 distinct lobes (the central one sometimes being a tooth-shape) Dark spots and lines |
Lip of bottom part of flower has 3 rounded lobes and is marked with dots and loops
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Lip of bottom part of flower is only rounded and only slightly 3-lobed
central lobe small and tooth-shaped
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| Leaves |
Narrow and pointed, erect
Yellowish-green
No spots (usually)
Tips turn in and make a little hood
4 -5 Leaves keeled like a boat hull
On the lower-half of the stem |
Broad and flat leaves, erect
Yellowish-green
No spots (usually)
Tips turn in and make a little hood?
4 - 5 Leaves keeled like a boat hull
On the lower-half of the stem?
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Broad, pointed leaves, erect
No spots or a vague sprinkle of vague O-shaped ones near leaf tips
4 - 6 Leaves spaced along the stem
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Broad, oval, oblong or ellipitical leaves
Leaves bluish-green Leaves heavily streaked or spotted (spots dull violet or brownish) 4 -6 Leaves spaced along the stem Top ones reach lower flowers |
Broad leaves
Apple-green or bronzed, and bright,
Very heavily blotched
Purple blotches forming bars across the leaves or entirely coverling leaves
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Only 2 - 3 leaves spaced along the stem
Lowermost clasps the stem
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Modified leaves behind the floral envelopes
(bracts)
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Narrow and pointed
Lower ones usually longer than the flowers
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Narrow and pointed
Usually longer than the flowers |
Narrow and pointed heavily spotted (spots dull violet) Usually longer than the flowers, long narrow and pointed |
Narrow and pointed
(and upper stem) purplish |
Narrow and pointed |
Spur on the back of the florets
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Downward pointing or horizontal half as long as ovary (ovary attaches floret to plant)
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Pointing downward -
much shorter than the ovary (ovary attaches floret to plant)
Tapered to the tip
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Spur short pointing downward |
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5 - 8mm long
pointing downward
half as long as ovary (ovary attaches floret to plant) |
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All the Marsh-orchid family - Spur Conical and fat |
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15 -30 florets |
15 -30 florets |
10 - 40 florets |
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10 -20 large florets |
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Usual height in Western Isles |
10 - 30cm
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10 - 25cm
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10 - 35cm |
10 - 30cm
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5 - 15cm |
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x Northern Marsh-orchid
(Fairly frequently)
D. x latirella |
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x Early Marsh-orchid
(Quite frequently)
D. x latirella
Heath Spotted-orchid x Northern Marsh-orchid
(Frequently)
D. x formosa
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Rare or very rare crosses |
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x Hebridean Spotted-orchid
(Rarely)
D. x kerniorum
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x Broad-leaved Marsh-orchid
(Very rare) |
x Hebridean Spotted-orchid
(Rarely)
D. x venusta
x Broad-leaved Marsh-orchid
(Very rare) |
x Northern Marsh-orchid
(very rare) x Early Marsh-orchid subsp. coccinea
(Very rare) x Heath-spotted Orchid
(Very rare)
D. x dingelensis |
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