Photographs: Co.Cork, Co.Limerick, Co.Dublin

Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata Magairlín mór Family: Orchidaceae Flowering May-July. Tuberous perennial. Native. Flowers usually white, pink or purple. (Ssp. coccinea has reddish flowers.) Narrow, cylindrical flower-spike, lower bracts longer than flowers. Sides of lip strongly reflexed, weakly 3-lobed, 2 U-shaped loops enclosing dotted patches. Leaves erect, keeled, usually unspotted. (Ssp. cruenta, leaves spotted both sides) Hollow stem. Very variable, links to subspecies below. Identifications by Ian Denholm Damp calcareous soils, meadows, fens, marshes, dune-slacks. Also slightly acidic bogs, damp heaths. Declining due to habitat loss.

D. incarnata ssp. pulchella,    D. incarnata ssp. incarnata,    D. incarnata ssp. coccinea and an albino form


Thank you to John Diggin for photographs of Early Marsh-orchid used immediately above