Specific To The Western Isles
This lovely orchid - the heath orchid is specific to the western isles. The heath orchid is quite similar to the hebridean spotted orchid and its quite difficult to tell them apart


The Heath Orchid likes Acid Soil
The Heath - likes moorland, acid soil, and this orchid was seen on the damp moorland at the top of Traigh Mhor.

The Hebridean-spotted orchid likes sandy lime soil, if you are on sandy machair soil looking at a pale pinkish orchid and there are no tormentil growing within the same area, you are probably looking at a hebridean spotted-orchid. (or a hybrid species that has some Hebridean spotted-orchid in it).

In the Heath orchid - the middle toothed bit of the lower petal on the florets is quite small - (in the Hebridean Spotted Orchid this bit is longer)

Protected by Law
All wild orchids are protected by law If You remove or disturb the ground - you can be fined or imprisoned - or both. If you are wanting to move them you need to get a licence from the local council.