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Heath Spotted Orchid
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The heath spotted orchid is closely related to the common spotted orchid, which it replaces on heathy and acidic sites, but the two can often be found growing side by side, and they readily hybridize. It is widespread and fairly common, although it has now disappeared from much of southeast and middle England. The plants tend to be less robust than common spotted, and the flowers are often paler, and less strongly marked. The lip of the flower is much less deeply serated, and the side lobes are much larger than the small central lobe. They have been likened to a blouse or petticoat. The plants above are growing at Poors Allotment in southwest Gloucestershire, whilst those below were photographed on Mull.
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