Marsh or Common?

I was at a peat-moor this morning looking for reptiles/insects and saw this orchid. I was instantly drawn to its delicate colours & structure. This was my first temperate orchid.

According to my little Collin's guide, it fits the description of a Common Spotted Orchid. However, it said this orchid likes calcareous (I read this as alkaline) or neutral conditions. But this specimen and the few other I found nearby was clearly in acidic bog! So could this be the Marsh Spotted Orchid? The photos in the guide plus description doesn't quite match. Could do with a positive ID from you guys and gals. For a larger and a closer shot click HERE.

150mm macro
f/4
1/250sec
iso200
handheld
full frame
wet & smelly trousers+tops

Hi Des, from looking in the book I use if it is an Early Marsh Orchid it could only be part of the Cruenta sub-species as this is the only one with spotted leaves. the patterning on the flower and the shape doesn't look right though to be a Marsh Orchid. it looks more like a Common Spotted as you say. I would say it is a hybrid of Common Spotted-orchid and the Early Marsh-orchid.

A very good book to get hold of is part of the Wild Guides series, Britains Orchids by David Lang (ISBN 1-903657-06-7)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Orchids-David-Lang/dp/1903657067/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1213522570&sr=11-1

The good thing with it is the fact it's small enough to go in your camera bag. Brett Lewis brought it to my attention and since I got it I always take it out with me when I intend to photograph orchids.

Hope this is of help, please note I'm no expert but I'm learning lots.

Hi Des, other than appreciating how attractive they are, I know nothing about orchids, but I like the shot for all that.
Eric

Nice clean shot of what I'd also put down as a Common Spotted - the sense of environment around it works well too for me.



Mark

Thanks guys, I've looked into this further and am now thinking that this is in fact the Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata). The much shorter central lobe of the flower pretty much ruled out the possibility of this being the Common Spotted.

Thanks again for your input.

Des I do not think this is a Heath Spotted... the Spike is too tall, the Heath spotted is quite short and broad almost pyamidal.

This does look more like a common spotted but as you say the habitat sounds wrong if it is indeed acidic.... I would more than likely guess a hybrid but I am no great expert.

Nice image BTW