Orchis palustris

Orchis palustris is sometimes considered a species of O. laxiflora and bears the name O.laxiflora subsp. palustris . It is a representaive of wetland Orchidaceae . In appearance ,it is reminiscent of a closely related genus Dactylorhiza ,but it is paired ball -shaped ground tubers giveaway its generic affiliation. A stalk of a specimen in bloom grows to a length between 6-24 in /15-60 cm; the leaves are elongated and only 0.8 in/2 cm wide.The species' inflorescence is usually somewhat sparse or of medium density and bears only a small number of large purple flowers . The lip is three-lobed with the middle lobe lengthwise extended . Orchis palustris inhabits alluvial and damp locations in the vicinity is restricted to unpolluted ,warm areas .it blooms between April and June . Its geographical area stretches between the northern part of the Mediterranean , and central and Western Europe ;it has also been spotted in Asia Minor and northern Africa.