Distinguishing Feature : Leaves (which are all basal) are usually blotched with dark purple or black splodges.

Stunted and dark-purple coloured specimens have some similarities to : Green Winged Orchid but for the lack of green veins on the outside of the lateral sepals and for the dark-purple splodges on the leaves.

Hybridises with : Green-Winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio) but seldom occurs.

The flowers are usually some shade of deep purple, but occasionally white or pink forms are to be found.

The starchy tubers are one of the most concentrated plant foods known and were eaten by sailors on long sea voyages. Before the advent of coffee the plant was also used to brew a popular aphrodisiac drink called salep, which was also, it is said, a refreshing tonic.

Before coffee houses were introduced, Salop houses sold salop, an aphrodisiacal drink made from the powdered root.

The flowers smell of honey when fresh, but after pollination smell of the urine of tom-cat, perhaps as a sign to visiting insects that pollination has already taken place.

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