Common Fragrant Orchid is a
native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in chalk grassland, heath and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 40cm.
The Common Fragrant Orchid has lilac or pink unmarked flowers with a hood, wings and a three-lobed lower lip. At the back, the flowers have very long spurs to hold nectar.
Botanic classification and naming: Common Fragrant Orchid is a member of the Orchid (Orchidaceae) family. The genus name
'Gymnadenia' identifies the plant as a Orchid with flowers lacking a pouch-like structure covering the nectar-producing structures and its species name 'conopsea' means 'mosquito-like (flower spurs)'.
Concerns: Orchids, like wild flowers in general, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) from being removed from the wild. Rare orchids such as the Early Spider Orchid, Monkey Orchid and Lady's Slipper Orchid are additionally protected from picking and damage.
Benefits: The Common Fragrant Orchid is pollinated by day-flying moths, such as the Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and night-flying moths, such as the Small Elephant Hawkmoth.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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