A large, attractive orchid growing on moderately
grazed species-rich limestone grassland. The distribution was
formerly widespread, though local, in parts of the North Pennines
in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Durham and Cumbria. It has suffered a
severe decline and has survived naturally at only one location,
where a combination of careful habitat management and wardening,
together with vegetative propagation and re-establishment of
material from ex-situ propagation, has led to a steady
increase in the size of the colony. In 1995 plants derived from
micro-propagation using wild seed were planted out at two sites in
addition to the original wild site. Further plants, derived from
wild stock, exist in cultivation.
Current factors causing loss or
decline
Uprooting by gardeners, picking and trampling by
botanists and others.
Habitat destruction due to increased grazing
pressure.
This orchid has been subject to an EN Species
Recovery Programme since 1992. This has included conserving native
plants in-situ and in cultivation, genetic investigation of
potential wild plants in cultivation to inform decisions on
cross-pollination and ex-situ propagation to provide seedlings for
re-stocking the native site and up to five former or other suitable
sites.
