Dactylorhiza maculata

Benli balkaymak

Tubers deeply 3 - 4 fid, more elongated at apex. Stem up to 60 cm, erect, usually solid. Cauline leaves 6 - 10, erect to patent, broadly lanceolate to oblong, acute to obtuse, with or without dark spots. Spike cylindrical to elongate, lax and many flowered. Bracts lanceolate, mostly shorter than the flowers. Flowers dark to pale pink. Sepals 8 - 9 x 3 mm, oblong to ovate-oblong, two lateral sepals spreading, dorsal sepal antrorse. Petals 6 - 7 x 3 - 4 mm, ovate to ovate-oblong, antrorse with dorsal sepal. Labellum transversely oblong, usually broader than long, 8 x 9 - 10 mm, with dark purple spots and darker coloured interrupted loops and lines, glabrous, flat, 3 - lobed, margins slowly erose-dentate. Lateral lobes oblongtriangular, ovate, 1.5 x 5 - 5.5 mm. Middle lobe of labellum as long as and much narrower than the lateral lobes, 1.5 x 2.5 - 3 mm. Spur cylindrical, obtuse, 2/3 - 3/4 as long as ovary, 6 - 11 x 3 - 4 mm, directed downwards, ± straight. Ovary cylindrical, 9 - 15 mm, ± straight, gently twisted, glabrous.

Flowering: July - August.