Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Dactylorhiza maculata / heath spotted orchid

Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó

heath spotted orchid (Orchidaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. ericetorum (our only subspecies) grows in moors, heaths, bogs and wet, acid grassland across most of the British Isles.

Morvich (VC105: West Ross); 2019-07-04

 heath spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza maculata: _Dactylorhiza maculata_ subsp. _ericetorum_ (our only subspecies) grows in moors, heaths, bogs and wet, acid grassland across most of the British Isles.

Like Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza maculatum has up to 6 non-sheathing stem-leaves.

Brandon Mountain (VCH1: South Kerry); 2019-07-25

 heath spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza maculata: Like _Dactylorhiza fuchsii_, _Dactylorhiza maculatum_ has up to 6 non-sheathing stem-leaves.

The leaves of Dactylorhiza maculata are narrower than those of Dactylorhiza fuchsii, with round rather than oval spots.

Strumble Head (VC45: Pembrokeshire); 2014-05-19

 heath spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza maculata: The leaves of _Dactylorhiza maculata_ are narrower than those of _Dactylorhiza fuchsii_, with round rather than oval spots.

The flowers of Dactylorhiza maculata have a labellum lobed to less than half way, with a short central lobe much narrower than the laterals; they can vary from almost white to quite dark pink.

Strumble Head (VC45: Pembrokeshire); 2014-05-19

 heath spotted orchid / Dactylorhiza maculata: The flowers of _Dactylorhiza maculata_ have a labellum lobed to less than half way, with a short central lobe much narrower than the laterals; they can vary from almost white to quite dark pink.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne