Early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), in dunes, Kenfig National Nature Reserve, South Wales

Confusingly, there are several subspecies or early marsh orchid. They all have in common a stout stem and a labellum (lower flower lip) folded back at the sides. Colours of subspecies vary. The nominate subspecies (D. incarnata incarnata) has flowers the colour of raw meat -- incarnata means flesh-coloured. The stunning form pictured above is the aptly named D. incarnata coccinea. Coccinea means scarlet. It tends to be smaller than other forms and usually found, as here, in dune slacks.

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Fleischfarbenes Knabenkraut

 

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