photographed in the Pyrenees
photographed in the Pyrenees
Orchidaceae — Tuberous perennial. Orchid of the wet mountain meadows, this subspecies of Dactylorhiza majalis is found in the Alpine arc and nearby massifs, where it colonizes marshy meadows, fens, and hollows with waterlogged soil, generally between 1,200 and 2,400 meters in altitude.
The plant raises a sturdy stem of 20 to 50 cm, bearing lanceolate, erect leaves, distinctly spotted with brown-purple, whose markings are one of the most consistent signs of the subspecies. The floral spike is dense and tight; the flowers, of a deep purple to strong magenta, feature a trilobed labellum marked with streaks and dark spots. The upper bracts, often strongly colored, give the top of the spike a dark and almost violet appearance before full bloom.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to July depending on the altitude.
This orchid is protected in France. It is not cultivated.