Dactylorhiza incarnata - Early Marsh-Orchid

The group of Dactylorhiza incarnata orchids is very variable and this can make indentification very difficult indeed. The two photographed above are the subspecies incarnata (left) and coccinea.

The Early Marsh-orchid grows to between 15 and 30 cm and favours calcareous wet meadows and dune slacks. They are well distributed throughout Europe and into the Near East.

The specimen above was photographed in Anglesey, North Wales in June..

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