some beauties just flowering

[fredg]

Try this one for size  

Dactylorhiza okellyi (Druce) Avertanov
Etymology: named after O'KELLY, Irish doctor who collected it.Type: Hb, Clare (1909).
Synonyms: Orchis maculata var. okellyi DRUCE, Orchis okellyi (DRUCE) DRUCE, Orchis maculata subsp. okellyi (DRUCE) DRUCE, Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. okellyi (DRUCE) SOÓ, Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. okellyi (DRUCE) BAUMAN & KÜNKELE.
Description: like Dactylorhiza fuchsii but often slender,(15-)20-40cm tall, cauline leaves , 5-8 quite narrow, erect to spreading, arching downwards, often keeled, not spotted, up to 8cm long, 2cm wide, the upper 2-4 leaves bract-like; bracts shorter than flowers; inflorescence short and compact, subcylindrical to subovoid, 3-5cm high; flowers small, scented, usually pure white, not spotted; labellum medium-sized, 5.5mm long, 8mm wide, spreading, clearly trilobed; 2n=40.
Variations: very distinct and only slightly variable taxon; transitions towards Dactylorhiza fuchsii exist, however they are sometimes considered to belonging to the species; in the broad sense Dactylorhiza okelleyi can thus exhibit individuals with faintly spotted leaves, always near the tip, and with flowers faintly pink-tinged and imperceptably spotted. Flowering V-VII

[mark smyth]

No photo from me of my ?okellyi until Thursday when the very welcome rain stops. By then many flowers will be open

[Hristo]

The books say many things that don't always hold true in the field or in cultivation!
Beware of defining a species from the description of one 'expert', there will always be
a plant of that species willing to 'cock-a-snoot'
I love the 'not very variable' statements that appear in such books, so profound, right
upto the point where you look at a new population that is rather variable!! I wonder
just how many populations in how many countries have been researched in order for
an author to be 'authorative'?

[olegKon]

A self-seeding Dactylorhiza incarnata

[Hristo]

Very nice Oleg, is the lip a typical form with you? Here the lobes tend to be less folded.

[Tony Willis]

last year Listera ovata appeared in the garden and this year there are now five plants flowering in different areas so it appears to be spreading.

[Maren]

On the subject of Dactylorhiza fuchsii v. okellyi, I contacted Professor Richard Bateman for clarification. He is a Hardy Orchid Society colleague and taxonomic specialist in these plants and this is a paraphrase of his reply:

"The argument for varietal status was based on morphometric analyses that showed extensive overlap with non-okellyi populations of fuchsii, though subsequent DNA-based analyses (Pillon et al. 2007) did not reveal any differences from standard fuchsii. Some authors still prefer subspecific status for okellyi, but very few would argue for species-level recognition. Okellyi is a misunderstood name; many folk apply it only to albinos, when in fact it refers to populations containing an unusually large proportion of anthocyanin-deficient individuals."

So there you have it, it's just a plain fuchsii without red, blue or violet.

The many specimens I saw on the Burren and around Mullaghmore were indeed pure white with the faintest hint of lime green. They stood out like candles in the surrounding vegetation.

[fredg]

That's sorted that out then Maren  

[mark smyth]

 and here are some photos of okellyi (not) but hopefully possibly

[mark smyth]

I'm going to lift all my orchids that look the same and keep them together as a group

[fredg]

and here are some photos of okellyi (not) but hopefully possibly

I'm afraid it's a negative Mark.
You don't have okellyi

[mark smyth]

Oh well.

[Neil]

Same with mine from Sam Edwards, will get a photo of it when is opened, but it looks a deep pink colour will appear.

[mark smyth]

Neil I didnt know about the UK Orchid forum. Must go for a look and maybe show some plants

[Maggi Young]

Neil I didnt know about the UK Orchid forum. Must go for a look and maybe show some plants

 Neither did I....I've been reading the German one!
http://www.ukorchidforum.com/index.php?sid=c3441c6811f6e77a538f424a338f9cab