Common fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea).

Found in Hertfordshire


A strongly scented orchid of species-rich grassland. Description: Plant height20–40cm. The cylindricalspike holds between 20 and 50 plain lilac purple flowers. The lip is flat with three rounded lobes. The lip is about as wide as it is long– a feature that separates it from the other fragrant orchids. The flowers have a strong sweet scent and produce nectar that attracts pollinators including butterflies and moths.