Orchis laxiflora - Lax-flowered Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Orchis laxiflora - Lax-flowered Orchid

This slender but tall (up to 60 cm) orchid prefers damp habitats and can be found in fens and marshy meadows and beside streams. Its deeply convex lip, together with its loosely arranged flower spike, distinguishes it from the many other similar coloured orchids.

The Lax-flowered Orchid is mainly distributed across the Mediterranean-Atlantic region, but it occurs as far northwest as the Channel Islands where, due to its abundance, it is called the Jersey Orchid. This species is becoming increasingly rare due to the destruction of its habitat; however, where it still occurs the localised groups can be very dense, turning meadows purple during the flowering period.

This specimen was photographed in the Lot Valley, France, in late May in a very wet, streamside meadow.