Pete's Walks - Common Spotted Orchid
Photo taken 08/07/07 at Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.
It was a Common Spotted Orchid that sparked my interest in wild flowers! I didn't know what it was, but I was fairly sure it was an orchid. I managed to identify it the next day when I saw its picture on an information board at Tring Park. I have since seen more of them at Ivinghoe Beacon and near Great Gaddesden. It grows on grassland on chalk and limestone, and is one of the commonest British orchids. Its petals can be pale pink or white, but always with purple markings.
Photo taken 13/06/20 at Whipsnade Downs, Beds.
Photo taken 08/07/07 at Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.
Photo taken 08/07/07 at Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.
The flower is named after the black spots on its leaves, as shown (not very clearly!) in the photograph above. They do not always have the black spots, however - the white-petalled flowers especially can occur without the leaf spots.
Photo taken 22/06/08 at Totternhoe, Beds.
Photo taken 22/06/08 at Totternhoe, Beds.