Common name:
Lady orchid
Family:
Scientific name:
Orchis purpurea
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered areas of southeast England
Height:
Up to 50 cm
Habitat:
Open woodland, dry grassland, on calcareous soils, especially chalk
Flowers:
The three sepals form a tight hood, dark red to purple in colour, sometimes with a greenish background, and concealing the two narrow upper petals. The lip is generally white, pink along the edges, and flecked with tufts of short pink hairs. It has two narrow side lobes resembling arms, and is divided at the base into two broader lobes, resembling legs, usually with a tiny tooth between
Leaves:
Broadly ovate, yellowish-green, unmarked, mostly basal, up 15 cm long and 5 cm wide
Season:
April to June
Rarity:
★★★★★
