Dactylorhiza elata, (Poiret) Soó, 1962

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 336

10. D. elata (Poiret) Soö ,

Nom. Nov. Gen. Dactylorhiza 7 (1962).

Tubers deeply 2- to 4-fid, more or less elongated at apex. Stem 30-110 cm, erect, narrowly fistular, with 6-10 distant leaves. Leaves erecto-patent, linear- to ovate-lanceolate, without spots, the uppermost bract-like. Raceme cylindrical, many-flowered, lax or dense. Bracts longer than the ovary. Flowers violet- purple, rarely pink. Outer perianth-segments 10-13 mm, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate; inner segments obliquely lanceo­ late. Labellum 9-16 x 12-24 mm, porrect, flat or slightly convex, ovate, suborbicular or flabellate, subentire to 3-lobed, minutely papillose; lateral lobes often deflexed. Spur cylindrical or conical-cylindrical, about as long as ovary. In = 80.

Wet meadows and marshes.

S. W. Europe, extending eastwards to Sicilia. Co Ga Hs Lu Si.

Only subsp. sesquipedalis (Willd.) Soö , loc. cit. (1962), occurs in Europe. Subsp. elata , from N. Africa, is distinguished by its smaller flowers, the labellum being as long as or slightly longer than wide, and its saccate-cylindrical spur.