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Early Marsh Orchid 05
Early
marsh orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata
There are several colour varieties of early marsh orchid,
sometimes occurring together. These and the Marsh
orchids are notoriously complex due to interbreeding and
mutation. The differences between the Early
Marsh are small in genetic terms, yet they are usually separated
into subspecies. However, subspecies require an explanation
why they have become different, usually by geographical
separation. If they occur together and pollen is transferred
between them, they can still interbreed, thereby reducing
the occurrence of a subspecies (according to the dominance
of the allele / gene). This cannot be done for the
UK (no barriers), and hence I would rather prefer this to
be either several full species or several varieties (based
upon colour) of a single species. Pollination
and spread in the UK is often inadvertently done by orchid
spotters who carry the pollen on their clothes and under
finger nails.
Early Marsh Orchid coccinea 12
var. COCCINEA (red)
Early Marsh Orchid 02 crop
var. OCHROLEUCA (creamy white)?
This is either a new species, rare subspecies or a variety
of Early Marsh Orchid. See top photo to compare them.
This white flower has broader bracts, is slightly stouter
and has slightly lobed petals. It potentially
bridges the gap between var. ochroleuca and
var. coccinea (there is a small amount of pink
tingeing in the lower photo). It therefore can
be argued to be a white variety of either a SPECIES called
D. coccinea (based mainly on colour) or
D. ochroleuca (based mainly on morphology), or a hybrid
of both This particular population occurred
at this location in South Wales in good numbers in 2006,
but did not reappear again in 2008.
Early Marsh Orchid pulcella 02
var. PULCELLA (purple)
Kenfig NNR, Wales, June
2008.
Early Marsh Orchid cruenta
Flecked
marsh orchid Dactylorhiza cruenta
a.k.a. var. CRUENTA (pink)
Lough Bunny, The Burren,
Ireland, June 2nd 2008.
Possibly a separate species,
but almost surely a subspecies of early marsh. This does
have geographical separation as well as a distinct and predictable
difference with the other "subspecies". Note the faint
speckles on the leaves and bracts.
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