Dactylorhiza elata

Dactylorhiza elata, the robust marsh orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to the western Mediterranean region (France (including Corsica), Sardinia, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia).

Dactylorhiza elata is a tuberous herbaceous perennial growing to 50 cm, and producing dense 20 cm spikes of purple flowers in spring.

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

Subspecies
Many names have been proposed for subspecies, varieties, subvarieties and forms of the species. As of June 2014, the following are recognized:


 * Dactylorhiza elata subsp. elata - Spain, North Africa
 * Dactylorhiza elata subsp. sesquipedalis (Willd.) Soó - France, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia