Broad-leaved marsh orchid in Polissia
Dactylorhiza majalis
Red Data Book of Ukraine: rare
The broad-leaved marsh orchid grows up to half a metre tall, with broad leaves that often bear dark spots. Its purple or pinkish-violet flowers with a dark pattern are gathered in a dense spike. The underground tubers are divided into “fingers”, which gives the plant its Ukrainian name, meaning “finger-root”.
The plant grows in wet and marshy meadows, lowland fens and along the edges of alder woods. In Polissia it is found in the floodplains of the Prypiat, Stokhid and Desna and in the meadows of the Shatsk Lakeland.
Like other orchids, it develops in symbiosis with soil fungi, so it grows slowly, and several years pass from germination to first flowering. The flowers are pollinated by bees and bumblebees.
All wild orchids of Ukraine are listed in the Red Data Book. This orchid must not be picked or dug up: transplanted into a garden, it almost always dies. Drainage and ploughing of meadows harm it.
When to see: May–June
Where it was seen in Polissia
Observations from the open scientific database GBIF since 1990. Locations are shown approximately, to within 10 km.
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