D. purpurella was first described by Stephenson and Stephenson from Wales in 1920 and its name refers to the characteristic purplish colour of the inflorescence.
This is an extremely variable species even by Dactylorhiza standards and introgression by other members of the genus makes identification all the more difficult. Its range is restricted to the Atlantic shores of northern Europe from Scotland and northern England through Scandinavia to Denmark.
Although this is not a common orchid, its widespead within its range and can be locally abundant. Recent research has shown that the species has a more southerley distribution than was at first thought. In the
UK it has now been found to be reasonably frequent in some of the the dune systems of South Wales.
D. purpurella, commonly known as the Northern Marsh Orchid has similar habitat preferences to its
close relative D. praetermissa (the Southern Marsh Orchid) and it is quite possible to find the two
species growing side by side in area's of distribution overlap.
The most significant characteristic when identifying this plant is the colouration which in pure populations is nearly always a bright purple with a contrasting white stigmatic area. Other features
such as size, leaf formation and lip markings are much less reliable.
The pictures here come from Newborough Warren, North Wales and Kenfig, South Wales.
The following photo's depict D. purpurella hybrids. Photo's 1 and 2 are D. purpurella x fuchsii and the third is D. purpurella x coccinea.
