Heath Spotted Orchid/Orchis tacheté

Description:

The Heath Spotted Orchid is a terrestrial orchid found throughout the European mountains. Its leaves are oblong with dark ellipsoid-shaped "spots" on the surface (hence the species name). The hermaphrodite flowers vary from light pink to purple or white with darker streaks mainly on the labellum

Habitat:

Spotted at 1700 m ASL in the undergrowth of a mixed pine forest. Distribution: European mountains (missing in the Balkans) and Northern Asia. Grows on siliceous and calcareous substrate, at an altitude up to 2,200 m (7,200 ft) ASL.

Notes:

These are at their peak of flowering in June.