Dactylorhiza cordigera - Heart-flowered Marsh-orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Dactylorhiza cordigera

Dactylorhiza cordigera in a marsh in the Pirin Mountains of Bulgaria

 

This orchid has very darkly spotted leaves and dark purple flowers. It flowers in very wet mountain meadows but also likes to be in the full sun. Dactylorhiza cordigera is widespread throughout the Balkan and Carpathian mountains where it is often found in large numbers. The overall plant grows to around 40 cm and is very robust. The flowers are a dark purple with a pattern of even darker loops and streaks. The lower lip is distinctly heart-shaped as can be seen from the close-up below.

Dactylorhiza cordigera - close up of flower spike

The central lobe of the lower lip of Dactylorhiza cordigera is distinctly heart-shaped

 

The flowering time for the Heart-flowered Marsh Orchid is from the end of May until the end of July - the higher the position, the later the flowering season, and this orchid can be found in mountains up to 2,400 metres above sea level.

Dactylorhiza cordigera occurs throughout the Balkans and Carpathians. It is present in Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Greece and former Yugoslavia.

The specimen above was photographed in the Pirin Mountain range in Bulgaria in mid June.