This species was first described from Uppsala, Sweden in 1755 and its name refers to the flesh coloured
flowers. This colouration, although most common is not diagnostic in itself and variations from dark pink
to lilac and even yellow or white examples have been found on rare occasions. D. incarnata is certainly a variable orchid and a few of the more frequent variants have recieved named recognition. D. incarnata
v ochrantha is a rare variation with pale yellow flowers which can be found growing alongside the more normally coloured plants throughout their range.
D. incarnata v lobelii is a squat variant that strongly resembles coccinea in that it is typically very short, having leaves that arch from the low stem. Colouration is however the more typical light pink rather than scarlet. Two examples of this variety are illustrated in photo's 9 and 10.
As with most species in the Genus, hybridization is frequent and there has been considerable ingression that can often make certain identification difficult. There is a famous population of marsh orchids at
Ferring in the south of England where Dactylorhiza incarnata, fuchsii and praetermissa have inter bred
to such a degree that locating pure specimens amongst the thousands of plants is all but impossible.
The distribution of D. incarnata is Euro-Siberian from Spain in the west to China in the east where it can be found growing in damp conditions up to a height of 2500 metres
The pictures here come from Braunton Burrows in Somerset, Kenfig in Glamorgan, Ferring Rife in Sussex and Ainsdale, Lancashire.
