Dactylorhiza majalis

Dactylorhiza majalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Genus:	Dactylorhiza
Species:	D. majalis
Binomial name
	Dactylorhiza majalis; (Rchb.) P.F.Hunt & Summerh. (1965)
Subspecies
	15; see text
Synonyms
	Dactylorchis majalis (Rchb.) Verm. (1947); Dactylorhiza comosa subsp. majalis (Rchb.) P.D.Sell (1996); Orchis latifolia subsp. majalis (Rchb.) Klinge (1898); Orchis latifolia var. majalis (Rchb.) Kitt. (1837); Orchis latifolia var. majalis (Rchb.) Nyman (1882); Orchis majalis Rchb. (1828), nom. cons.;

Dactylorhiza majalis, or the broad-leaved marsh orchid, is a terrestrial Eurasian orchid.

Subspecies include the western marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. occidentalis) and southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. praetermissa).

The broad-leaved marsh orchid grows mainly in nitrogen-poor marsh areas that consist of several plant communities. More rarely, it is found in fens. Its flowering period begins at lower elevations as early as the beginning of May and ends in higher elevations at the end of July. The lowest blossoms usually open even before the stem has reached its full height.