24/06/25 Frog & Spotted Orchid Hybrid
- anthonyheys2
- Jun 24
- 1 min read
A week ago we visited a nearby chalky downland site in West Sussex that I previously regarded as being no good for hardy orchids.
In fact there were plenty to be found: Common spotted, Bee, Fly, Pyramidal, Frog, and a single Southern marsh orchid.
I understand there are Early Purples there too, earlier in the season, but curiously perhaps, no Fragrant orchids currently to be seen.
There were also many other interesting wildflowers, including Common gromwell (Lithospermum officinale).
One of our party found a lovely, delicate, little hybrid plant of the Frog orchid and the Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza x mixtum). This is rare but known to be quite widespread.
Presumably it can happen in any population of Frog orchids (Dactylorhiza viridis) if there are also Common spotted orchids (Datylorhiza fuchsii) in the vicinity.
The spacing and orientation of the individual flowers is redolent of the Frog while the flower lip is faintly patterned with the pink of the Common spotted but rather elongated.
The leaves are small, apple green, and unspotted. There were two other orchid plants nearby showing signs of the same hybridisation, albeit less clear-cut.