Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. incarnata Early Marsh-orchid

This subspecies of Early Marsh-orchid, which has pale pink flowers, is usually taller than Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea (up to 40cm). It is widely ditributed in Britain but has declined in recent decades as a result of agricultural improvemnet and drainage. It grows in marshes, fens and wet meadows where the substrate is neutral or base-rich. It is also found in dune slacks but it is not as common as Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea in that habitat in West Glamorgan. Otherwise it is scarce in some inland base-rich marshes where it is threatened by habitat loss through lack of management or development. 

Native