Dactylorhiza xgrandis - Dactylorhiza fuchsii x Dactylorhiza praetermissa - (Orchidaceae)

Dactylorhiza xgrandis

Dactylorhiza xgrandis is a hybrid between the Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa)

To find a recognisable orchid hybrid in the wild is exciting, but they are notoriously difficult to recognise because, even in relatively small groups of a single species, there can be considerable variation in the appearance of the flowers relating to shape, size, and most confusing of all, lip pattern. One of the best demonstrations of this confusion is to visit a large colony of Green-winged Orchids (Anacamptis morio), such as the one to be found at Bristol Waterworks where there are literally hundreds of plants displaying the huge variation in colours that can occur in the same species. A couple of basic 'rules' for recognising hybrids, but which are surprisingly difficult to apply in practice, are that the plant suspected of being a hybrid should show the characteristics of both parents, and that both parents should grow in close proximity to the plant in question.

A closeup picture of the flowers

Of all the orchid species to grow in Britain, the spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza species) produce the most hybrids. The plants photographed on this page are a hybrid between the Common Spotted-orchid and the Southern Marsh-orchid. Both parents were close by and much in evidence, and the size and vigour of the plant is another reasonably good indication that the plant is a hybrid.

The leaves of D. xgrandis

The leaves of the plant

The specimens above were photographed in Cae Blaen Dyffryn , a nature reserve close to Lampeter in West Wales, in late spring.