Orchis mascula, the early-purple orchid, early spring orchis, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. The plant is native to Europe including the British Isles, North-West Africa, the Middle East and western and northern Asia. Early Purple Orchid, salep, blue butcher, clue butcher orchid, male orchid, Salep Orchid, Dead Mans Fingers and Male Orchis are some of the popular common names of the plant.Early purple orchid is a perennial herbaceous plant that normally grows about 25–40 cm (10–16 in.) tall. The plant is found growing in woodland, copses, and open pastures in base rich soils, meadows, mountain pastures, woods, coppices and hedgerows. The plant can succeeds in most soils, but it prefers a moist loam and lots of leaf mound. It does best in a deep rich soil. The root system consists of two tubers, rounded or ellipsoid. Perennial stems are green at the base and purple on the apex. 3–4 stalk less leaves are present at base like rosette and alternate sheathing leaves on stem. Blades are elliptic–lanceolate–linear, with entire margin; upper surface is dark green–greyish green, without spots–spotted, spots often large.
