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Military orchid flowers
Photo: Kaido Einama
Translation: Liis
Military orchid in Matsalu
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Military orchid |
Hall käpp |
In the meadows the first native orchids are already flowering. The most commonly seen is the military orchid. Its Estonian name, hall käpp, meaning grey paw, comes from the pale colour on the outside of the buds. The Latin name militaris refers to the flowers lined up like little helmeted warriors.
It prefers the drier alvars of western and north-western Estonia. The military orchid is quite common elsewhere too, but not as numerous: for that a calcareous soil is needed. It can grow into a half metre tall plant in fertile locations; the leaves surrounding the stalk are particularly lush then.
