This delightful little orchid was first described from Sweden in 1753 and its name refers to the dark colouration of the hood which produces a burnt effect and which is also responsible for the species common name of "Burnt tip Orchid".
N. ustulata is an isolated species that has always been the subject of great debate as to its true generic
home. It started its formally described existence as Neotinia ustulata and was then reclassified into the
Orchis genus where it remained for many years untill research indicated that both it and its fellow
tridentata group members should more correctly be placed back in the Neotinia stable.
It was always a point of interest that despite often growing in its thousands with other species of Orchis,
"the then" O. ustulata was never found to have hybridized with any other than "the then" O. tridentata
which as already mentioned has now been proved to be a genetic cousin.
This is a widespread orchid with a range that takes it from the Faroe Islands and Sweden in the north down to the Mediterranean and right across to western Siberia. It is generally at its most common in montane area's where it prefers a position in full sun on alkaline soils - usually short grass and alpine pastures. In Britain its found only in England and predominently the south east where unfortunately it is declining in both sites and numbers.
Ustulata has its principal flowering period in May but given the range of eco-zones it covers, it can be as
early as April and as late as August. The illustrations come from the UK, France and Italy.
