Which Dactylorhiza?

[WimB]

This Dactylorhiza came up in a friends garden next to a Spiranthes she had bought. Now she's wondering what species it might be and since I'm far from an expert in orchids I thought maybe someone here might know which species this is.

[Lesley Cox]

I can't really tell I'm afraid but maybe it is like the Dacts I grow, which seed about all over the garden and lawn. I counted over 100 flowers last month, on plants which I never placed there; in the lawn, in pots, in cracks in a concrete path, in plants in the garden. I grow D. elata (very few seedlings), D. foliosa (a few more), and D. maculata and D. m. ssp fuchsii, masses from both. All welcome to me though. I actually was able to pick a bunch for the house!

[Hoy]

Looks like Dactylorhiza maculata to me.

[Shadylanejewel]

I agree it looks like one I bought a few years ago which was labeled Dactylorhiza maculata. 

Unfortunately, mine did not come back up the next year.  I'd love to have them all over like Lesley.

[WimB]

Lesley, they can be very prolific indeed but I never seem to be able to tell the species apart. Must be nice to have so many that you're able to pick for the house!

Thanks for the determination, Trond and Julie!

[Lesley Cox]

What I have as maculata has wider leaves and large, dark spots, sometimes with spaces in their middles, like a leopard's footprint. What I had originally as fuchsii but have since read is mac. ssp fuchsii, has narrower foliage (and frequently paler flowers) and smaller, paler spots, sometimes just a few spots. I find the wildlings can stand incredible drought. Even when they have no water literally for several months at a time and the plant and frequent grasses or other weeds in the pots have died, the orchids still come up again the next year.

[gote]

I believe that the genus Dactylorhiza has been subject to too much splitting. Originally they were all Orchis maculata L.
Besides that, it is necessary to look at the whole plant. including shape of leaves. The main way to differ out D. fuchsii or (D.m.v. fuchsii if you are a lumper) is the shape of the lowest leaf.
A complication is that juvenile plants may differ from mature plants. A narrow leaf solid stem specimen turned into a wide leaf hollow stem specimen in two years - and these characteristics were used in the key!
Said all that, I agree that it may well be maculata.
Cheers
Göte
PS.
You may be able to read this link: http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/orchida/dacty/dactmac.html

[Hoy]

Or you can read this: http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:lup.lub.lu.se:548374?tab2=abs&language=en

[Shadylanejewel]

The nursery where I bought my now deceased D. maculata from mentioned they hybridize quite easily. 

[Maren]

Exactly, that's why it is so difficult to identify them, even if you have a decent book to help key them out. In my humble and probably confused opinion, it helps to know where they grew to narrow it down. But if it's a bought plant, the chance of identification lessens. I reckon it's a D. maculata x fuchsii, but I wouldn't put money on it.

[WimB]

Thanks for the help and the links!

Here's a pic of the leaves, maybe that can help to narrow it down a bit!

[Hoy]

Thanks for the help and the links!

Here's a pic of the leaves, maybe that can help to narrow it down a bit!

Don't think that is possible from that picture! fuchsii and maculata are regarded as subspecies of a very variable species. Take a look here:

http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:lup.lub.lu.se:548374?tab2=abs&language=en

[WimB]

Thanks for the help and the links!

Here's a pic of the leaves, maybe that can help to narrow it down a bit!

Don't think that is possible from that picture! fuchsii and maculata are regarded as subspecies of a very variable species. Take a look here:

http://swepub.kb.se/bib/swepub:oai:lup.lub.lu.se:548374?tab2=abs&language=en

Thanks Trond,

so the name-tag should probably say "Dactylorhiza maculata complex"

[Lesley Cox]

I was going to suggest D. maculata Group but complex probably fits better. Don't lose sleep over it Wim.

(I'm feeding the Ping seedlings on those tiny black insects sometimes found on peaches (in this case) or field mushrooms. The Pings are doing exceptionally well on them, just some sprinkled over the pots each weekend.)

[WimB]

I was going to suggest D. maculata Group but complex probably fits better. Don't lose sleep over it Wim.

I won't, don't worry....  I've never lost sleep over promiscuous plants which can't keep to their own species, as long as they're beautiful, all's well! 

(I'm feeding the Ping seedlings on those tiny black insects sometimes found on peaches (in this case) or field mushrooms. The Pings are doing exceptionally well on them, just some sprinkled over the pots each weekend.)

They'll like that a lot, fruitflies are one of their favorite "prey"....last year Luc G. used some pings to catch away the fruitflies which are attracted to the mix in whcih his Pleione's grow, I heard they work perfect for that.