Spotted orchid, Heath spotted orchid, Adder's grass, Hen's kames
Dactylorhiza maculata
Family: Orchidaceae
What it is like
A ground orchid. It grows 15-60 cm high. There are 6-10 leaves spaced along the stem. They are oval to oblong. The leaves are spotted. It has 3 similar sized lip lobes. The uppermost leaves are bract like. The flower spike is dense. The flowers are large and pale pink to purple. The lip is lined or dotted with purple. They have narrow bracts around them. The lower bracts are shorter than the flowers.
There are 33 Dactylorhiza species.
Where it is found
It grows in wet, acidic soils. It is mainly in hills and mountains in the mediterranean.
Countries/locations it is found in
Britain, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Slovenia
How it is used for food
Salep is made from the tubers.
Edible parts
Root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Pegasta prstasta kukavica