Common Spotted-orchid
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Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Common & widespread around Britain.
The inflorescence is a dense-flowered spike, produced in June–August, that is at first conical then cylindrical.
The flower colour can vary from white to pale purple with purple spots, a symmetrical pattern of dark purple loops or dots and dashes.
The lip has three lobes.
The bracts are usually shorter than the flower.
The lip is smaller than that of the very similar Dactylorhiza maculata and has three deeper cuts.
The middle lobe is more than half as large as a lateral lobe.
Some colonies are highly perfumed, attractive to day-flying Moths.
The leaves are narrow lanceolate, keeled and often dark-spotted.
Flowers from May-August.