Early Marsh-orchid - Dactylorhiza incarnata

A tuberous erect plant. The 4 or 5 lanceolate, yellowish green leaves sheath the stem which is usually hollow. The flowers are in a dense, terminal spike. The bracts are long, sometimes protruding beyond the flower.

This is a difficult genus that readily hybridises, leading to many intermediate forms; the species also exhibit a wide range of variation. Other Dactylorhiza in VC55 are Heath-spotted Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and the hybrid between Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids (D x grandis); other hybrids within Dactylorhiza are possible where both parents grow together.

Several subspecies of D incarnata have been named.

Stem usually hollow (feel this by gently compressing the lower stem between finger and thumb; no need to pick the flower!).  Leaves usually unspotted; labellum (lower lip) with sides turned back and so appearing very narrow from front; usually 2 distinct dark loop-marks side by side.   Flowers usually paler pink than Southern Marsh Orchid, and often appear slightly salmon in colour

Details of flowers

Wet meadows.

Flowers May to July.

Perennial.

Widespread but not particularly frequent, scarce in the far north

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

In the current checklist (Jeeves 2011) it is listed as Native; rare; few recent records.