Marsh orchids
Dactylorhiza spp.
Family: Orchidaceae
Examples: D. fuchsia, D. incarnata, D. maculata, D. praetermissa, D. purpurella, D. traunsteineri
Fire effect on plant
Marsh orchids may survive low-severity fires outside the growing season as an underground bud. Fires in the growing season may cause mortality.
Key traits
Marsh orchids are perennials with belowground tubers. During winter, they persist as bulbs underground from which new shoots develop in spring. During this dormant phase, marsh orchids will likely survive low-intensity fires. Fires in the growing season will likely be much more damaging (Quarmby 1999).
Marsh orchid species are described as early- to mid-successional species that require disturbance for their maintenance (Jacquemyn et al. 2014). Fire may therefore benefit marsh orchids, by suppressing competition and limiting shading, but there is very little information about the direct impact of fire on marsh orchids.
Seeds are wind-dispersed, achieving dispersal distances of 2–15m; Lososová et al. 2023). Seeds are persisent in the seedbank (2-5 years) however, fire impacts on seeds are unclear.
Plant response to fire
Fire effects in marsh orchids will vary by season and severity. Low-severity, winter fires may positively impact on marsh orchids through reductions in competition and increased light availability. Fire during the growing season would likely negatively impact lesser butterfly orchid populations, as in other seasonally-dormant Orchids (Quarmby 1999).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds can be produced from 2-6 years depending upon the species and site productivity. Flowering May to August.
Conservation status
BAP - Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. ochroleuca, Dactylorhiza purpurella subsp. cambrensis; Protected - Dactylorhiza lapponica.
References
Jacquemyn, H., Brys, R. and Hutchings, M.J. 2014. Biological Flora of the British Isles: Epipactis palustris. Journal of Ecology 102: 1341-1355 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Lososová, Z., Axmanová, I., Chytrý, M., Midolo, G., Abdulhak, S., Karger, D.N., Renaud, J., Van Es, J., Vittoz, P. and Thuiller, W. 2023. Seed dispersal distance classes and dispersal modes for the European flora. Global Ecology and Biogeography 32: 1485–1494 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Quarmby, J.P. 1999. Recovery plan for twelve threatened orchids in the Lofty Block region of South Australia 2010. South Australia: Department of Environment and Natural Resources [Expert opinion; grey literature]