Dactylorhiza praetermissa

Southern marsh orchid

Photographed Somerset, 12 June 2003

Image number 120603smo1

This orchid is characterised by broad unspotted leaves and a labellum with spots rather than ring markings. Hybrids of this orchid with D fuchsii can be very beautiful, they are usually characterised by spotted leaves and ring marks on the labellum. Unless proved to the contrary I will regard D. praetermissa var. junialis (Leopard spotted orchid) as such a hybrid. Similar D. majalis hybrids exist in Europe, they usually have a labellum with a darker purple background and leaf spots which may be Leopard spotted. The distribution of this orchid is not known due to the confusion between this and D. majalis hybrids abroad and between D. purpurella and D. fucshii hybrids in this country.