Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Dactylorhiza fuchsii / common spotted orchid

Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó

common spotted orchid (Orchidaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencySW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Dactylorhiza fuchsii is a widespread and variable orchid; Dactylorhiza maculata is the only other Dactylorhiza species with so many non-sheathing stem-leaves.

Luton (VC30: Bedfordshire); 2009-06-11

 common spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza fuchsii: _Dactylorhiza fuchsii_ is a widespread and variable orchid; _Dactylorhiza maculata_ is the only other _Dactylorhiza_ species with so many non-sheathing stem-leaves.

The leaves of Dactylorhiza fuchsii are usually marked with solid dark spots, wider than they are long.

Stanway (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2019-06-09

 common spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza fuchsii: The leaves of _Dactylorhiza fuchsii_ are usually marked with solid dark spots, wider than they are long.

The flowers of Dactylorhiza fuchsii have a deeply lobed labellum, where the middle lobe is the longest, and at least half as wide as the other lobes.

Stanway (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2019-06-09

 common spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza fuchsii: The flowers of _Dactylorhiza fuchsii_ have a deeply lobed labellum, where the middle lobe is the longest, and at least half as wide as the other lobes.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne