Flower Properties

Flower Details

Description

A delicate native orchid with spikes of pale pink to purple flowers marked with darker spots, and distinctively spotted leaves. It’s one of the UK’s most widespread orchids, thriving in grasslands, woodland edges, and meadows. Like many orchids, it is sensitive to habitat loss and benefits from careful conservation of old grasslands and traditional hay meadows.

Distribution

Widespread across Europe and the UK, preferring calcareous soils and unimproved grasslands.

Medicinal/Other Uses

Orchid tubers (salep) have historically been used as a nourishing food and for digestive complaints, though this species was not specifically targeted.

Edibility

Tubers can be used to make salep, though collection from the wild is illegal in many places due to conservation concerns.

Human Toxicity

Non_Toxic

No toxicity reported. Harvesting is discouraged to protect wild populations.

Pet Toxicity

Not Toxic

Active Compounds

Polysaccharides in tubers, tannins, and flavonoids.

Quality Issue

Action: Enhanced. Orchid spike is reasonably clear, but a dark grass/stem ran directly across it and vegetation is busy.