Orchis mascula aka Early Purple Orchid

Orchis mascula, also known as the early-purple orchid or early spring orchis, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Native to Europe, including the British Isles, North-West Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, this terrestrial orchid grows up to 25-40 cm tall. It has leaves that are typically spotted with deep purple and produces dense, upright spikes of intricate, light to dark purple flowers during the spring to early summer. Common names for this plant include Salep Orchid, Dead Mans Fingers, and Male Orchis. It thrives in various environments such as woodlands, meadows, and mountain pastures, preferring moist loam and leaf mound-rich soils. The plant has a unique root system with two rounded or ellipsoid tubers and features green stems at the base, which turn purple towards the apex. At the base, it forms a rosette of 3-4 stalkless leaves, while the stem bears alternate sheathing leaves. The elliptic-lanceolate-linear blades of the leaves have a dark green to greyish green upper surface, which may or may not be spotted.