Syn.: Dactylorhiza longebracteata (F. W. Schmidt) Holub., Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. fuchsii (Druce) Hyl., Orchis fuchsii Druce
Family: Orchidaceae Juss.
Distribution: Mountain areas of Europe (except the northernmost areas), in Asia from Western Siberia to Northern Mongolia.
Ecology: It grows in meadows, pastures, bogs, forests and forests edges, from foothills to subalpine altitudinal zone.
Description: A perennial herb with an erect stem, 15–60 cm high. The spotted leaves are ovate to lanceolate up to 20 cm long. The conical inflorescence up to 7 cm long, the flowers are whitish to lilac, rarely purple, middle lobe of labellum is a very conspicuous, elongated. Flowers from June to July. The fruit is a capsule.
Threat and Protection: The Common Spotted Orchid is a protected plant in some countries (CZ, SK, I, D, A), simultaneously is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Note: Often confused with related Dactylorhiza maculata. The species is very variable.
These images were taken in Czechia:
31. 5. – Hostýnské vrchy, Pod Kozincem,
9. 7. – Hrubý Jeseník, Skřítek,
10. 7. – Hrubý Jeseník, Rejvíz,
11. 7. 2003 – Hrubý Jeseník, Velká kotlina a Praděd.
