Dactylorhiza majalis

, Germany On average, Dactylorhiza majalis is tall, though specimens can grow up to . Four to ten spotted leaves (either purple or burgundy in color) are distributed around the stem, which is hollow. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate and long by wide, and get smaller and more lanceolate as they approach the inflorescence. The seed of this orchid contains no endosperm for the embryo. Therefore, germination can take place only by means of infection with a root fungus (mycorrhiza). ==Taxonomy==

In 1828 Ludwig Reichenbach described the broad-leaved marsh orchid as Orchis majalis. The name became the basionym after Peter Francis Hunt and Victor Samuel Summerhayes transferred the species to the genus Dactylorhiza in 1965. Sometimes the name Dactylorhiza fistulosa is used, but since this description is not valid, the name cannot be used despite its earlier publication in 1794 as Orchis fistulosa. Many synonyms have been published: The broad-leaved marsh orchid hybridizes quite commonly with other species of its genus. Some inter-species hybrids include: • Dactylorhiza × aschersoniana (Dactylorhiza incarnata × D. majalis) • Dactylorhiza × braunii (D. maculata × D. majalis) • Dactylorhiza × braunii nothosubsp. braunii (D. maculata subsp. fuchsii × D. majalis subsp. majalis) • Dactylorhiza × braunii nothosubsp. lilacina (D. maculata subsp. fuchsii × D. majalis subsp. turfosa) • Dactylorhiza × ruppertii (D. majalis × Dactylorhiza sambucina) • Dactylorhiza × senayi (D. maculata × D. majalis) • Dactylorhiza × senayi nothosubsp. senayi (D. maculata subsp. maculata × D. majalis subsp. majalis) • Dactylorhiza × senayi nothosubsp. wiefelspuetziana (D. maculata subsp. maculata × D. majalis subsp. sphagnicola) More rarely, hybrids with other genera (intergeneric hybrids) occur. • ×Dactyloglossum drucei (Coeloglossum viride × Dactylorhiza majalis) • ×Dactylodenia lebrunii (Dactylorhiza majalis × Gymnadenia conopsea) Formerly placed here • Dactylorhiza francis-drucei (as Dactylorhiza majalis var. francis-drucei ) • Dactylorhiza francis-drucei var. ebudensis (as Dactylorhiza majalis var. ebudensis and D. majalis subsp. ebudensis ) • Dactylorhiza francis-drucei subsp. traunsteinerioides (as Dactylorhiza majalis var. traunsteinerioides and D. majalis subsp. traunsteinerioides ) ==Range==

Dactylorhiza majalis is widespread across much of Europe and north-central Asia, from Spain and Ireland to Siberia and Kazakhstan. In Germany the broad-leaved marsh orchid is widespread but with several gaps. In many places, especially from western to northern Germany, it is extinct. In Switzerland it is also quite widespread. A significant gap is found south of the Aar between Aarau and Lake Neuchâtel. ==Conservation==

Although the broad-leaved marsh orchid is commonly found in some regions, it is nevertheless protected as an orchid. As with many marsh plants, the numbers of this species have been dwindling for quite some time. The main causes are the entry of nitrogen via fertilizer, drying out of the habitat, and intensive conversion to pasture. The broad-leaved marsh orchid does not react so sensitively to changes in its habitat as for example the early marsh orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnata. It is usually the last of the native orchids to disappear. This tolerance makes it a still relatively common species. ==References==