Description: There are many orchid hybrids, but most are very rare. This one is a cross between the Common Spotted-Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the Northern Marsh-Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella). It is quite common in damp or wet sand dune slacks along the north coast in places like The Umbra dunes, the Bann Estuary dunes and Whitepark Bay, where both parent species are abundant and grow side-by-side.

The hybrid is a vigorous handsome plant with paler flowers than the Northern Marsh-Orchid, and is very variable. It shows various combinations of the features of both parents. Like most hybrids it is almost totally sterile, producing no or very few seeds.

All names: Dactylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella (D. x venusta) (Stephenson & T.A.Stephenson) Soo; Dactylorhiza x venusta (Stephenson & T.A.Stephenson) Soo; Dactylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella

Distribution Map from NBN: Dactylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Dactylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.