heath spotted orchid
ExplorePlants
heath spotted orchid
Dactylorhiza maculata
The heath spotted orchid is a beautiful flower with purple spots. It grows in grassy areas and adds color to the landscape, making it a lovely sight for nature lovers.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The heath spotted orchid has green leaves often marked with distinctive dark spots. Its flowers are arranged in a dense, conical spike, typically purplish-pink to white, with darker patterns on the three-lobed lower lip, making each bloom unique.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusDactylorhiza
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its scientific name "Dactylorhiza" means "finger root" for its tubers that look like fingers!
Orchid seeds are like dust, so tiny they can be carried by wind across countries!
This orchid often grows in huge, beautiful colonies, painting fields with purple!
You can find this spotted beauty thriving in places as far apart as Portugal and Siberia!
Special abilities
Ability
Fungal Partner
heath spotted orchid can only sprout with the help of tiny underground fungi, giving it a secret partner for growth.
Ability
Tricky Nectarless Blooms
heath spotted orchid has nectar-free flowers that trick insects into visiting, making them spread pollen without a sweet reward.
Ability
Spotted Camouflage
heath spotted orchid has distinctive dark spots on its leaves, which might help it blend in with dappled light or deter herbivores.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-50 cm
- Spread
- 10-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to mid-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
visits flowers seeking nectar (though often tricked!)
pollinates
Western honey bee
Apis mellifera
helps spread pollen between the flowers
eaten by
Black slug
Arion ater
slugs can graze on orchid leaves and flowers
Traits
Spotted
Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't pick the flowers; they are best enjoyed in nature!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is heath spotted orchid?
20-50 cm
How wide does heath spotted orchid spread?
10-20 cm
How big are the flowers on heath spotted orchid?
1-2 cm
When does heath spotted orchid bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is heath spotted orchid edible?
No
Is heath spotted orchid toxic?
None
What is heath spotted orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is heath spotted orchid pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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