Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora

The Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora, formerly Aceras anthropophorum) takes its name from the curious human-like outline of its small, yellowish-green flowers. It is a plant of short, unimproved chalk grassland and is nationally scarce, largely confined to south-east England. In Suffolk, it is associated with the chalk grasslands of the west of the county, though it has declined significantly and is now present at only a small number of sites. Populations can fluctuate considerably from year to year. Careful grazing management to maintain short, open turf and prevent scrub encroachment is central to the survival of remaining sites. Image: © Stuart Read, Flickr.

Find out more: iNaturalist, Plantlife, Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora