Family: Orchidaceae Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula Flowering time: April-June. Perennial Usually grows in small groups on neutral or calcareous soils; woods, roadsides, grassland, limestone pavements. Loose spike of (usually) purple flowers with broad lip, shallow-lobed with a central dark-spotted pale patch. Narrow, notched central lobe and erect side sepals. Leaves are usually spotted and blunt-tipped. Stem usually solid

Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula
, Dorset. May 2013