Germany: Spotted Orchid in Thuringian Forest
Just on the outskirts of Ilmenau, there is a beautifl valley and a lake with meadows of this spectacular nothern orchid – Spotted Orchid aka Dactylorhiza maculata in Latin. THe English names desribes the orchid’s leaves that have black dots on them. The Latin name refers to the roots, which have tubers that look like human fingers, “dacrylo” for fingers and “rhiza” for root. The roots form symbioses with fungi underground and hence the orchid can be found in profusion where this happens
