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Dactylorhiza maculata
Few isolated groves of these orchids found on edge of the forest, growing in shade; one only fully in flower, one almost finished while others were developing their flower buds. Flowers are pale pink with an intricate violet pattern, and tightly packed in terminal spikes. The "lip" is trilobed, but all three parts remain of the same length. Stem is erect, and reaching about 45-50 cm of height. Some leaves are present on flowering stems, while the leaves in basal rosette are elongated and always heavily spotted (pic N° 5).
Found in Jura mountain range, edges of mixed forest of "plateau de Retord" - a vast plateau in southern part of the Jura Mountains, lying at about 1000m of altitude and covered by prairies and forests.
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