Early Marsh Orchid
Dactylorhiza incarnata is a slender plant with a height of 15 to 60 cm. The 4 to 8 leaves are lanceolate and mostly not spotted. The inflorescence consists of 15 to 60 small flowers, tightly arranged in a conical inflorescence, and each supported by a strong and long bract. The spur is directed horizontally or bented downwards. Petals and the middle sepals form a small hood. The lateral sepals are spreaded upwards. The broad and rounded labellum is three-lobed, but not very markedly. The loops on the lip form an ornamental design, sometimes they even cover the inner side of the lateral sepals.
Taxonomic discussion
The plant was first described by Linné (Flora Svecica, 1755) as Orchis incarnata. In 1962 the Hungarian botanist Károly Rezsö Soó von Bere defined it as Dactylorhiza incarnata.
White colour of flowers
The flowers of Dactylorhiza fuchsii are mostly pink to light-purple, but the variebility of the species is rather high. On Gotland, there are quite often yellow-flowered plants. Strict albiflora forms are rather rare.
Habitat, bloom and distribution
Dactylorhiza fuchsii is growing on mostly wet meadows, up to 2400 m. Bloom is from May to June. Dactylorhiza incarnata grows in many parts of Europe.