This is a smaller Dactylorhiza species which grows in bogs with little lime but many nutitrive substances in the soil.

It's a rare orchid of the high hills and lower moutains which has its main occurences in the Alps.

This is a relative to D. incarnata with fewer, sleek and sometimes contorted leaves which can have dots or not. The middle lobe of the lip is longer than that of D. incarnata.

Var. blytii is a more robust northern variety which is shown in the right corner.

Similar biotopes has the pink D. sphagnicola which is one of the rarest orchids in Europe, it can be found only in north Germany.

All mentioned species can be cultivated in a moist bed with neutral soil and full sunlight.