Early Purple Orchid
Height up to 40cm
Widespread and locally common orchid of woodland, scrub and
grassland, doing especially well on neutral or calcareous soils.
Rosettes of glossy, dark green leaves with dark spots, appear
from January onwards from which the flower stalk arises later in
spring. The pinkish purple flowers are borne in tall spikes,
AprilJune; the lower lip is 3-lobed, 812mm long, and there is
a long spur.
