Close-up image of the Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora photographed in Cambridgeshire.

In French, this species has the common name Homme-pendu meaning “hanged man”, an apt description.

Until recently, this species was classified in a different genus (Aceras) but DNA analysis has shown it to be closely related to other members of the “Anthropomorphic Orchis” group.

In keeping with this, the Man Orchid readily forms hybrids with these other species. One such hybrid with the Monkey Orchid is also featured in the gallery (MN021).

This image was used as the cover photograph for the October 2009 issue of the Journal of the Hardy Orchid Society.

Ref: MN0022

Location: Cambridgeshire