Photo © Dr Stephen Bungard |
Scarce, on limestone rock ledges or crevices Height c 10-35 cm. Flower diameter c 9-12 mm. Lowest petal of flower c 6 mm long. Skye ID: Leaves folded, each enclosing the base of the next, in two rows. Upper stem downy, flowers deep red, the cup-shaped basal section of the lowest petal being green with a red margin and red spots inside. Not likely to be confused with any other orchid except Broad-leaved Helleborine, which has greenish-red flowers and an all-dark inside to the cup. Other features: Lower leaves purple-tinged. Lowest petal of flower is in two parts with a folded joint between; the basal part is a cup (the hypochile) containing nectar, and the outer part (the epichile) looks like a normal orchid lip. Sorry no close-ups of open flowers yet. |
