Orchis mascula

Quick Characteristics:

Orchis mascula L. is a big, conspicious Orchis spreading throughout western Europe, from Portugal to Norway, but can also be found on the Balkans, Turkey and parts of Georgia and Armenia. It prefers open forests on lime soil. Flowers are dark pink to purple, often with a spotted lip and slightly facing downwards, opposing an upwards-pointing spur of about the length of the ovary. Leaves may be spotted, but this feature varies widely. Photos by Martin Bohnet taken in habitat on the Swabian Jura, southern Germany.