About Orchis purpurea Huds.
Orchis purpurea Huds. reaches an average height of 30 to 100 centimeters (12 to 39 inches). Its leaves are broad and oblong-lanceolate, growing in a rosette around the plant's base and surrounding the flower spike. The leaves are fleshy, bright green, and can grow up to 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is densely packed with up to 50 flowers. The sepals and upper petals are violaceous or purple, which gives the species its Latin name purpurea. The flower's labellum is pale pink or white, with its center spotted by clusters of violaceous or purple hairs. The labellum is split into three lobes: the two outer lobes are small and narrow, while the inner lobe is large, rounded, and heart-shaped. This species flowers from late April to June. This orchid occurs in most of Europe, northern Africa, Turkey, and the Caucasus. It usually grows on sloping woodlands, especially in mixed deciduous and oak forests, but can occasionally be found in meadows. It prefers limestone or chalk soil and partially shaded locations, growing at altitudes between 0 and 1,350 meters (0 and 4,429 feet) above sea level.
