Dactylorhiza umbrosa - Shady Marsh Orchid

Shady Marsh Orchid is a robust perennial herb, rarely dwarf, up to 60-80 cm tall. Flowers are borne in densely many-flowered, cylindric spikes, up to 15-22 cm. Bracts are lanceshaped, inferior exceeding flowers. Flowers are rose-purple or flesh-colored, very rarely white. Sepals are 10 x 3-4 mm, laterals spreading or reflexed, dorsal forming a loose hood with slightly shorter petals. Lip is nearly flat, 7-10 mm long, predominately longer than broad, roundish or oblong or kidney-shaped-rhomboidal, sometimes tapering towards the tip, entire, nearly so, or shortly 3-lobed, marked with darker purple dots or loops of broken lines. Spur is cylindrical, slightly curved outwards, rarely straight. Ovary is slightly twisted, hairless. Stem is solid, hollow in larger plants, leafy. Leaves are sometimes crowded towards the base, unspotted, erect-spreading. Leaves are lanceshaped to oblong-lanceshaped, 7-11 x 1-3 cm, tip tapering, basal leaves oblong or ovate. Shady Marsh Orchid is found in Türkiye to Siberia and W. Himalaya, at altitudes of 1000-4000 m. Flowering: May-July.