Dactylorhiza praetermissa


Dactylorhiza praetermissa, the southern marsh orchid or leopard marsh orchid, is a commonly occurring species of European orchid.

Description

Grows to 70 cm. Leaves generally unspotted. Flowers various shades of pink and varied markings, basal lip of flower rounded.
It flowers May to July. The species is able to form hybrids with others in the same genus, and hybrids with Dactylorhiza fuchsii occur frequently.

Distribution and Habitat

It is native to northern and central Europe. It is also reportedly naturalized in Italy and in parts of Canada.
This species is found close to water, in damp alkaline meadows, by ponds, lakes or reservoirs and in dune slacks.

Ecology

The flowers of this species are pollinated by insects including the cuckoo bee and skipper butterfly.
Dactylorhiza are known to be mycorrhizal generalists. D. praetermissa has been shown to benefit from association with fungal species in the genus Rhizoctonia and others in the Tulasnellaceae family.

Subspecies and varieties

Many names for infraspecific taxa have been proposed. At of June 2014, the following are recognized:
  1. Dactylorhiza praetermissa var. junialis Senghas - Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada
  2. Dactylorhiza praetermissa subsp. osiliensis Kreutz - Sweden, Baltic Republics
  3. Dactylorhiza praetermissa subsp. praetermissa - Britain, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy
  4. Dactylorhiza praetermissa subsp. schoenophila R.M.Bateman & Denholm - Britain