This species was first described from Southern England in 1914 and its name means "neglected".
D. praetermissa is basically a plant of the North Sea and English Channel coasts and is probably at its
most frequent in the dune systems of the south of England and Wales. In Britain the species is gradually replaced as it travels northwards by D. purpurella, although there is a significant overlap in range and
there are several area's (notably in Wales) where the two species can be found growing side by side.
The range of D. praetermissa includes the Low Countries, Denmark, northern and central France as far east as Germany. Its preferred habitat is wet dune slacks but can also be found in both neutral fens, damp meadows and surprisingly, though rarely, short calcareous grassland. The precise limits of its
distribution are uncertain due to the species enthusiasm for gene sharing and consequent confusion over
identity.
This is an extremely variable, polymorphic species which is frequently introgressed by other members
of the genus and particularly D. maculata and D. fuchsii. In its typical form its a robust orchid with
a hollow stem that is compressible when gently squeezed. The strongly keeled leaves are usually unspotted (except in variety junialis) and form a fan at the base. Flower colouration varies from pale
lilac to dark pink and lip markings are normally relatively subtle spots or stripes. Where these
markings appear more extravagent the possibility of introgression should be considered.
The photograph's are from Braunton Burrows, Somerset and Kenfig, Glamorgan.
The following photo's depict hybrid D. praetermissa x D. fuchsii.
