Welcome to the Britain and Ireland Wild Orchid Photo Gallery

Here is a selection of images of the many wild orchids of the British Isles that are featured in the First Nature guide to Wild Orchids in Wales...

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Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera	Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata	Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha	Lesser Butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia	Southern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa	Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis	Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula	Dune Helleborine Epipactis dunensis	Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine	Northern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella	Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio


Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii	Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata	No common name Epipactis neerlandica	Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris	Sword-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia	Violet Helleborine Epipactis purpurata
Marsh Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia densiflora	Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia conopsea	Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineroides	Fen Orchid Liparis loeselii	Autumn Lady's-tresses Spiranthes spiralis	Green-flowered Helleborine Epipactis phyllanthes
Dark-red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens	Bog Orchid Hammarbya paludosa	Small White Orchid Pseudorchis albida	Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera	Common Twayblade Neottia ovata	Lesser Twayblade Neottia Cordata

Dozens more wild orchids of Britain and Europe are featured in the First Nature Wildflower Guide...

English Name	Latin Name	Site Examples
Autumn Lady's Tresses	Spiranthes spiralis	Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Bee Orchid	Ophrys apifera	Coastal dune slacks, roadside verges and Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Bog Orchid	Hammarbya paludosa	Claerwen National Nature Reserve
Broad-leaved Helleborine	Epipactis helleborine	Kenfig and Newborough Warren National Nature Reserves
Common Spotted-orchid	Dactylorhiza fuschii	Common throughout Wales and in many coastal NNRs - Kenfig, Dyfi
Common Twayblade	Neottia ovata	Common throughout Wales and in many coastal NNRs - Kenfig, Dyfi
Dark-red Helleborine	Epipactis atrorubens	The Great Orme National Nature Reserve
Dune Helleborine	Epipactis dunensis	Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve
Early Marsh-orchid	Dactylorhiza incarnata	Coastal nature reserves - Kenfig, Dyfi, Newborough Warren
Early Purple-orchid	Orchis mascula	Common on roadside verges throughout Wales and also in coastal nature reserves - Kenfig
Epipactis neerlandica	Epipactis neerlandica	Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Fen Orchid	Liparis loeselii	Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Fly Orchid	Ophrys insectifera	Anglesey Fens National Nature Reserves
Fragrant Orchid	Gymnadenia conopsea	Kenfig, Anglesey Fens National Nature Reserves
Frog Orchid	Dactylorhiza viridis	Occasionally found at Minera Quarry near Wrexham and Anglesey
Greater Butterfly Orchid	Platanthera chlorantha	Cae Blaen Dyffryn Nature Reserve near Lampeter
Green-flowered Helleborine	Epipactis phyllanthes	Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Green-winged Orchid	Anacamptis morio	Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Heath Spotted-orchid	Dactylorhiza maculata	Common throughout the uplands and wetlands nature reserves throughout Wales - Claerwen National Nature Reserve
Lesser Butterfly Orchid	Platanthera bifolia	Cae Blaen Dyffryn Nature Reserve near Lampeter
Lesser Twayblade	Neottia cordata	Y Berwyn National Nature Reserve
Marsh Helleborine	Epipactis palustris	Kenfig and Newborough National Nature Reserves
Northern Marsh-orchid	Dactylorhiza purpurella	Newborough Warren, Dyfi National Nature Reserves
Pyramidal Orchid	Anacamptis pyramidalis	Kenfig, Dyfi, Newborough Warren National Nature Reserves
Small-white Orchid	Pseudorchis albida	Apply to Brecknock Wildlife Trust
Southern Marsh-orchid	Dactylorhiza praetermissa	Kenfig National Nature Reserve