Heath Spotted Orchid
by Yvonne Johnstone
Title
Heath Spotted Orchid
Artist
Yvonne Johnstone
Medium
Photograph - Digitally Enhanced Photograph
Description
The Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) is the most common of the Scottish Orchids and is found on moorland, marshes and open woodland.
One straight but delicate stem (slightly ribbed) appears in late Spring, out of which leaves grow alternate and stalkless. The leaves are lanceolate, with roundly pointed tips, usually covered in dark purple spots (maculata means "stained" and refers to the markings on the leaves).
Flowerheads are conical in shape with 5 - 20 flowers. Each flower has 2 petals, a winged upper petal which is cleft in 3, with 2 side wings and a large lower petal which can also be split into 3. Petals are white to pale lilac or pink and with spots or broken lines of a deeper hue on the lower petals.
Fruit is a capsule with tiny dust/powdery seeds which disperse in the wind.
Uploaded
July 20th, 2021
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