The first local example of the Burnt Orchid I spotted was on May 2nd, which indicated that it was the early flowering variety... the later variety, flowering in July and August, being taller because of the higher surrounding grass and herbage at that time of year.

The local guide book "Les Orchidées du Bassin de la Claise Tourangelle" indicates this orchid is reasonably well distributed in the region, although I have seen very few on my daily wanderings. Apparently it is also reasonably common in Wiltshire - although I never saw it there either despite living in the county for two decades - and has been adopted as the County Flower. However, it is noted as being "nationally scarce - rare and decreasing," by experts and, "during the past 70 years being lost from 210 of the 285 ten-kilometre squares where it had been recorded. Disturbance and lack of suitable grazing have been major factors in this decline, but it also appears sensitive to extremes of temperature."