Dactylorhiza incarnata

Dactylorhiza incarnata
Photo: Peter Zschunke, 31/05/2018, on Gotland, Sweden

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.

Dactylorhiza incarnata
Photo: Holger Disse, 11/06/2008, on Gotland, Sweden

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.

Dactylorhiza incarnata
Photo: Peter Zschunke, 31/05/2018, on Gotland, Sweden

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.

Dactylorhiza incarnata
Photo: Peter Zschunke, 13/06/2015, near Murnau, Bavaria, Germany

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.