Lady Orchid
Orchis purpurea
Height up to 75cm
An impressive orchid of woods and scrub, mostly on chalk. Locally common in a few sites in Kent and very rare in locations elsewhere in S England. Broad, oval leaves form a basal rosette and loosely sheathe the flowering stem. Flower spike, 1015cm tall, is cylindrical with flowers opening from the bottom. In close-up, flowers have a dark red hood and pale pink, red-spotted lip; appear AprilJune.
