Orchis militaris, soikkokämmekkä
This is one of the most handsome of Finnish orchids, too bad that it is so rare.
The
plant has many large, broad leaves. The plant has big and handsome inflorescense,
usually less than 40 cm in heigh in Finland The flo
wers
are far from the stem, and therefore the inflorscense look seven more handsome.
The flowers are large. They have "legs" and "hands" and large "helmets".
They look like small soldiers. Flowers are blueish purple.
The species is extremely rare in Finland. It was found in our country
in 80´s, propably prought here with limestone brought from Gotland.
As far as I know, it has grown in 7 places in Finland, some of where it
has died from. I beliewe it still grows in Parainen, and has even started
to spread in Tvärminne in Hanko.
It has not done that anywhere else in Finland. The plant has died at least
from Lohja and Lappeenranta.
The species spreads well with seed.
Orchis militaris is protected in Finland. All of the photos are taken in Öland, Sweden.
The orchid flowers in June.
