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Welcome to the Wild Orchid Photo Gallery

Sections: Britain & Ireland - Mainland Europe - North America - Hybrids - Monstrous-forms

These thumbnail pictures have links to larger photographs and information about each of the orchids, their habitat needs and an identification guide.


Section 1. Wild Orchids of Britain and Ireland

Note: You will find more comprehensive information as well as a guide to 50 top orchid sites in Wales in Sue Parker's new hardback book "Wild Orchids of Wales, how, when and where to find them"...

Green-winged
Orchid
Green-winged Orchid, Anacamptis morio
Anacamptis
morio
Pyramidal
Orchid
Pyramidal Orchid
Anacamptis
pyramidalis
White
Helleborine
White Helleborine, Cephalanthera damasonium
Cephalanthera damasonium
Sword-leaved
Helleborine
Sword-leaved Helleborine
Cephalanthera
longifolia
Red
Helleborine
Red Helleborine, Cephalanthera rubra
Cephalanthera
rubra
Coralroot
Orchid
Corallorhiza-trifida, Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza
trifida
Lady's-slipper
Orchid
Cypripedium calceolus, Lady's-slipper Orchid
Cypripedium
calceolus
Dark-red
Helleborine
Dark-red Helleborine
Epipactis
atrorubens
Hebridean Marsh-orchid
Hebridean Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza ebudensis
Dactylorhiza
ebudensis
Common
Spotted-orchid
Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Dactylorhiza
fuchsii
O'Kelly's
Spotted-orchid
O'Kelly's Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. okellyi
Dactylorhiza
fuchsii
subsp. okellyi
Common
Spotted-orchid
Dactylorhiza fuchsii var rhodochila
D. fuchsii
var. rhodochila
Early
Marsh-orchid
Early Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
incarnata
Early Marsh-orchid
subsp. coccinea
Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea
D. incarnata
subsp. coccinea
Early Marsh-orchid
subsp. leucantha
Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. leucantha
D. incarnata
subsp leucantha
Early Marsh-orchid
subsp. pulchella
Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. pulchella
D. incarnata
subsp. pulchella
Heath
Spotted-orchid
Heath Spotted-orchid
Dactylorhiza
maculata
Heath Spotted-orchid
subsp. ericetorum
Dactylorhiza ericetorum
D. maculata
subsp. ericetorum
Broad-leaved
Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza majalis var.  kerryensis, Irish Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
majalis
Southern
Marsh-orchid
Southern Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
praetermissa
Northern
Marsh-orchid
Northern Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
purpurella
N. Marsh-orchid
var. cambrensis
Dactylorhiza purpurella var. cambrensis
D. purpurella
var. cambrensis
Narrow-leaved
Marsh-orchid
Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
traunsteinerioides
Dune
Helleborine
Dune Helleborine
Epipactis
dunensis
Broad-leaved
Helleborine
Epipactis helleborine, Broad-leaved Helleborine
Epipactis
helleborine
B-l Helleborine
var. albifolia
Epipactis helleborine var. albifolia
E. helleborine
var. albifolia

B-l Helleborine
var. purpurea
Epipactis helleborine var. purpurea
E. helleborine
var. purpurea
B-l Helleborine
var. viridiflora
Epipactis helleborine var. viridiflora
E. helleborine
var. viridiflora
Narrow-lipped
Helleborine
Narrow-lipped Helleborine, Epipactis leptochila
Epipactis
leptochila
Dutch
Helleborine
Epipactis neerlandica
Epipactis
neerlandica
Marsh
Helleborine
Marsh Helleborine
Epipactis
palustris
Green-flowered
Helleborine
Green-flowered Helleborine
Epipactis
phyllanthes
Green-fl Helleborine
var. cambrensis
Epipactis phyllanthes var. cambrensis
E. phyllanthes
var. cambrensis
Green-fl Helleborine
var. vectensis
Epipactis phyllanthes var. vectensis
E. phyllanthes
var. vectensis
Violet
Helleborine
Violet Helleborine
Epipactis
purpurata
Violet Helleborine
var. rosea
Violet Helleborine var. rosea
E. purpurata
var. rosea
Lindisfarne
Helleborine
Lindisfarne Helleborine, Epipactis sancta
Epipactis
sancta
Creeping
Lady's-tresses
Creeping Lady's-tresses, Goodyera repens
Goodyera
repens
Heath
Fragrant-orchid
Gymnadenia borealis, Heath Fragrant-orchid
Gymnadenia
borealis
Chalk
Fragrant-orchid
Chalk Fragrant-orchid
Gymnadenia
conopsea
Marsh
Fragrant-orchid
Marsh Fragrant-orchid
Gymnadenia
densiflora
Dense-flowered
Orchid
Neotinea maculata, Dense-flowered Orchid
Neotinea
maculata
Burnt
Orchid
Burnt Orchid Neotinea ustulata
Neotinea
ustulata
Lesser
Twayblade
Lesser Twayblade
Neottia
cordata
Bird's-nest
Orchid
Bird's-nest Orchid, Neotia nidus-avis
Neottia
nidus-avis
Common
Twayblade
Neottia ovata, Common Twayblade
Neottia
ovata
Small White
Orchid
Pseudorchis albida, Small White Orchid
Pseudorchis
albida
Bee
Orchid
Ophrys apifera, Bee Orchid
Ophrys
apifera
Bee Orchid
f. belgarum
Bee Orchid f. belgarum
O. apifera
f. belgarum
Bee Orchid
f. bicolor
Bee Orchid f. bicolor

O. apifera
f. bicolor
Late
Spider-orchid
Late Spider-orchid, Ophrys fuciflora
Ophrys
fuciflora
Fly Orchid
f. luteomarginata
Fly Orchid f. luteomarginata
O. insectifera
f. luteomarginata
Early
Spider-orchid
Early Spider-orchid, Ophrys sphegodes
Ophrys
sphegodes
Early-purple
Orchid
Early-purple Orchid
Orchis
mascula
Military
Orchid
Orchis militaris, Military Orchid
Orchis
militaris
Monkey
Orchid
Orchis simia, Monkey Orchid
Orchis
simia
Lesser
Butterfly-orchid
Lesser Butterfly-orchid
Platanthera
bifolia

Greater
Butterfly-orchid
Greater Butterfly-orchid
Platanthera
chlorantha
Small-white
Orchid
Small-white Orchid, Pseudorchis albida
Pseudorchis
albida
Irish
Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana, Irish Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes
romanzoffiana
Autumn
Lady's-tresses
Autumn Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes
spiralis

Section 2. Wild Orchids of mainland Europe not native to Britain and Ireland

This section is being created to provide a linked picture gallery to nearly 100 wild orchis species found in various parts of mainland Europe but not native to Britain. At present the gallery is limited, but many more species are included in our sortable index of wildflowers...

Note: You will find more comprehensive information about southern European orchid species as well as a guide to 50 top orchid sites in the Algarve in Sue Parker's new hardback book "Wild Orchids of the Algarve, how, when and where to find them"...

Fan-lipped
Orchid
Fan-lipped Orchid, Anacamptis collina
Anacamptis
collina
Fragrant Bug
Orchid
Bug Orchid, Anacamptis coriophora
A. coriophora

subsp. fragrans
Lax-flowered
Orchid
Lax-flowered Orchid, Anacamptis laxiflora
Anacamptis
laxiflora
Long-spurred
Orchid
Long-spurred Orchid, Anacamptis morio subsp. longicornu pic by Orchi, Wikipedia
A. morio
subsp. longicornu
Pink Butterfly
Orchid
Pink Butterfly Orchid, Anacamptis papilionacea
Anacamptis
papilionacea
Robust Marsh-
orchid
Dactylorhiza elata, Robust Marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza
elata
Elder-flowered
Orchid
Ender-flowered Orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina
Dactylorhiza
sambucina
Two-leaved
Gennaria
Gennaria diphylla, Two-leaved Gennaria
Gennaria
diphylla
Frivald's
Gymnadenia
Gymnadenia frivaldii
Gymnadenia
frivaldii
Black
Vanilla Orchid
Gymnadenia rhellicani
Gymnadenia
rhellicani
Red
Vanilla Orchid
Gymnadenia rubra
Gymnadenia
rubra
Violet
Limodore
Violet Limodore, Limodorum abortivum
Limodorum
abortivum
Toothed
Orchid
Toothed Orchid, Neotinea tridentata
Neotinea
tridentata
Bertoloni's
Bee Orchid
Bertoloni's Bee Orchid, Ophrys bertolonii
Ophrys
bertolonii
Spectacled
Ophrys
Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella - Spectacled Ophrys
Ophrys
biscutella
Bumblebee
Orchid
Bumblebee Orchid, Ophrys bombyliflora
Ophrys
bombyliflora
Sombre
Bee-orchid
Ophrys fusca, Sombre Bee-orchid
Ophrys
fusca
Cyprus
Bee-orchid
Ophrys kotschyi, Cyprus Bee-orchid
Ophrys
kotschyi
Yellow
Bee-orchid
Yellow Bee Orchid, Ophrys lutea
Ophrys
lutea
Woodcock
Orchid
Woodcock Orchid, Ophrys scolopax
Ophrys
scolopax
Small Yellow
Bee-orchid
Ophrys lutea subsp. galilaea, Small-flowered Yellow Bee-orchid
Ophrys lutea
subsp. galilaea
Mirror
Orchid
Mirror Orchid, Ophrys speculum
Ophrys
speculum
Mirror Orchid
subsp. lusitanica
Mirror Orchid, Ophrys speculum
O. speculum
subsp.lusitanica
Early Spirer Orchid
subsp. araneola
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. araneola
O. sphegodes
subsp. araneola
Early Spider Orchid
subsp. aveyronensis
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. aveyronensis
O. sphegodes
subsp. aveyronensis
Early Spirer Orchid
subsp. cretensis
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. cretensis
O. sphegodes
subsp. cretensis
Early Spider Orchid
subsp. passionis
Dark Ophrys, Ophrys sphegodes var. passionis
O. sphegodes
subsp. passionis
Early Spider Orchid
subsp. gortynia
Dark Ophrys, Ophrys sphegodes var. garganica
O. sphegodes
subsp. gortynia
Early Spider Orchid
subsp. mammosa
Early Spider Orchid subsp. mammosa
O. sphegodes
subsp.mammosa
Grecian Spider
Orchid
Grecian Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. spruneri
O. sphegodes
subsp. spruneri
Anatolian
Orchid
Anatolian Orchid, Orchis anatolica
Orchis
anatolica
Naked Man
Orchid
Naked Man Orchid, Orchis italica
Orchis
italica
Bohemian Early-
Purple-orchid
Bohemian Early Purple-orchid, Orchis mascula subsp. speciosa
O. mascula
subsp. speciosa
Southern Early
Purple-orchid
Southern Early Purple-orchid, Orchis olbiensis
Orchis
olbiensis
Sparse-flowered
Orchid
Sparse-flowered Orchid, Orchis pauciflora
Orchis
pauciflora
Provencal
Orchid
Provence Orchid, Orchis provincialis
Orchis
provincialis
Four-spotted
Orchid
Four-spotted Orchid, Orchis quadripunctata
Orchis
quadripunctata
Cretan
Orchid
Cretan Orchid, Orchis sitiaca
Orchis
sitiaca
Heart-flowered
Tongue-orchid
Heart-flowered Tongue-orchid, Serapias cordigera
Serapias
cordigera
Tongue
Orchid
Tongue Orchid, Serapias lingua
Serapias
lingua
Eastern
tongue-orchid
Eastern Tongue-orchid, Serapias orientalis
Serapias
orientalis
Small-flowered
tongue-orchid
Small-floweredTongue-orchid, Serapias parviflora
Serapias
parviflora
Long-lipped
tongue-orchid
Long-lipped Tongue-orchid, Serapias vomeracea
Serapias
vomeracea

Section 3. North America

We are developing a section that will include a selection of wild orchids found in North America. Meanwhile here is our first contribution:

Spotted
Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis, Western Spotted Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza
maculata
Yellow
Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis, Western Spotted Coralroot Orchid
C. maculata
f. immaculata
Western
Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza mertensiana, Western Coralroot Orchid
Corallorhiza
mertensiana
Green
Bog-orchid
Platanthera huronensis, Green Bog-orchid
Platanthera
huronensis
Northern
Green Orchid
Platanthera hyperborea, Northern Rein Orchid
Platanthera
hyperborea
Irish
Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana, Irish Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes
romanzoffiana

Section 4. Hybrids

We are still developing this new section about hybrids.:

Common Sp-orchid -
S. Marsh-orch' hybrid
Common Spotted-orchid x Southern Marsh-orchid hybrid
Dactylorhiza x
grandis
Common Sp-orchid -
N. Marsh-orch' hybrid
Common Spotted-orchid x Northern Marsh-orchid hybrid
Dactylorhiza x
venusta
Sombre Bee-orchid -
Yellow Bee-orchid
Sombre Bee Orchid - Yellow Bee-orchid hybrid
Hybrid
Ophrys fusca x lutea
Bee Orchid -
Fly Orchid hybrid
Bee Orchid - Fly Orchid hybrid
Ophrys x
pietschii
Monkey Orchid -
Lady Orchid hybrid
Monkey Orchid - Lady Orchid hybrid
Orchis x
angusticruris
Monkey Orchid -
Man Orchid hybrid
Monkey Orchid - Man Orchid hybrid
Orchis x
bergonii
Military Orchid -
Man Orchid hybrid
Orchis x spurium, Military Orchid - Man Orchid hybrid
Orchis x
spurium
Military Orchid -
Lady Orchid Hybrid
Orchis x hybrida, Military Orchid - Lady Orchid hybrid
Orchis x
hybrida

Section 5. Monstrous Forms and other Oddballs

In this new section we intend to show a small selection of the many unusual forms of wild orchids.

Pyramidal Orchid
resupinate form
Monstrous form of Serapias lingua
Anacamptis
pyramidalis
Pyramidal Orchid
emarginate form
Monstrous form of Serapias lingua
Anacamptis
pyramidalis
Tongue Orchid
with two lips
Monstrous form of Serapias lingua
Serapias
lingua
Bumblebee Orchid
with two lips
Monstrous form of Ophrys bombyliflora
Ophrys
bombyliflora
Hypochromatic
Mirror Orchid
Hypochromatic colour form, Ophrys speculum
Ophrys
speculum

 

Reference sources

The Plant List

Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of Wales - how, when and where to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)

Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of the Algarve - where, when and how to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)

Anne and Simon Harrap (2005) Orchids of Britain and Ireland; A&C Black

Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black

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Sue Parker's new ebook is a comprehensive and fully revised edition of her acclaimed field guide to the Wild Orchids of Wales. Full details here...

Buy it for just £5.95 on Amazon...

Sue Parker's 5-star acclaimed field guide to the Wild Orchids of the Algarve is now available as an ebook. Full details here...

Buy it for just £5.95 on Amazon...


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