NORTHERN MARSH-ORCHID

Dactylorhiza purpurella

(Formerly: Orchis purpurella)
Orchid Family [Orchidaceae]  

month8May month8jun month8june month8jul month8july

status
statusZnative		 flower
flower8bicolour		 flower
flower8purple		 inner
inner8white		 morph
morph8zygo		 petals
petalsZ2		 type
typeZclustered		 type
typeZspiked		 type
typeZspurred		 stem
stem8round		 stem
stem8hollow

ssp. majaliformis

[in which the leaves are heavily spotted with dull violet coarse spots]
7th June 2005, Southport Dunes (Strandline), Sefton Coastal Path. Photo: © RWD
sub-species majaliformis


7th June 2005, Southport Dunes (Strandline), Sefton Coastal Path. Photo: © RWD
sub-species majaliformis


7th June 2005, Southport Dunes (Strandline), Sefton Coastal Path. Photo: © RWD
sub-species majaliformis




ssp. purpurella

[in which the leaves are either un-spotted, or with few fine spots near the apex and the plant is diminutive]
29th May 2010, ex-Ironworks, Hodbarrow, Millom. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


29th May 2010, ex-Ironworks, Hodbarrow, Millom. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


29th May 2010, ex-Ironworks, Hodbarrow, Millom. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


29th May 2010, ex-Ironworks, Hodbarrow, Millom. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella


18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
sub-species purpurella

Easily confused with : Early-Purple Orchid except that that has no markings on the flower and is just a plain purple colour.

Hybridizes with :

  • Narrow-Leaved Marsh-Orchid (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides) to produce Dactylorhiza purpurella × traunsteinerioides
  • Western Marsh-Orchid (Dactylorhiza kerryensis) to produce Dactylorhiza kerryensis × purpurella
  • Heath Spotted-Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) to produce Dactylorhiza × formosa (Dactylorhiza maculata × purpurella)
  • Early Marsh-Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) to produce Dactylorhiza × latirella (Dactylorhiza incarnata × purpurella)
  • Common Spotted-Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) to produce Dactylorhiza × venusta (Dactylorhiza fuchsii × purpurella)

Some similarities to : all the above!

Northern Marsh-Orchid has broad basal leaves and several broadish sheathed stem leaves.

The stems are hollow which can be tested by a gentle squeeze.

  Dactylorhiza purpurella  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Orchidaceae  

Distribution
family8Orchid family8Orchidacaea
 BSBI maps
genus8Dactylorhiza
Dactylorhiza
(Marsh-Orchids)

NORTHERN MARSH-ORCHID

Dactylorhiza purpurella

(Formerly: Orchis purpurella)
Orchid Family [Orchidaceae]  

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