Dactylorhiza cruenta - Leopard Orchid, Flecked Marsh-orchid

The Leopard or Flecked Marsh-orchid is a speciality of the Burren in County Clare, Ireland although it has also been recorded from near Ullapool in Scotland.

This robust-looking orchid is a sub-species of the Early Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) and favours calcareous grassland which is damp throughout the year. Its main distinguishing feature are the leaves which are heavily marked on both sides of the top one third with dark marks that often form circles. Outside Ireland it is also known in several European countries including Scandinavia.

The specimen above was photographed in the Burren in mid-June.