Early Marsh Orchid | Plant Information

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Plant Data

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Asparagales

Family:

Orchidaceae (Orchid)

Also in this family:

Autumn Lady's Tresses, Bee Orchid, Broad-leaved Helleborine, Common Fragrant Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Twayblade, Dark Red Helleborine, Dune Helleborine, Early Purple Orchid, Fly Orchid, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Green-winged Orchid, Heath Fragrant Orchid, Heath Spotted Orchid, Lady's-slipper Orchid, Marsh Helleborine, Northern Marsh Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Maximum Size:

40 centimetres tall

Habitats:

Bogs, fens, heathland, marshes, meadows, sand dunes, waterside, wetland.

Flower:

Variable in colour, 2 petals

The flower spike is very variable in colour. They are most often pink but can be purple, rose, mauve, red or pale yellow. The flower is very narrow with a central tooth, and the sides fold backward. The flower markings comprise of two loops. Straight, tapering spur.

Fruit:

A seed capsule which contains several minute dust-like seeds.

Leaves:

Yellowish-green, hollow and normally unspotted.

Frequency (UK):

Occasionally seen

Similar Species:

Northern Marsh Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid