The male Orchis is part of the genus Orchis, largely amputated from many species now classified in the genera Anacamptis or Dactylorhiza.

Orchis are tuberous orchids, usually have two which gave them their Greek name Orchis which means testicle. One of the tubers allows the plant to grow while the second forms during this same period and will replace the original tuber which gradually withers the following year. If we were to dig up an orchid (which I of course prohibit), we would therefore find the tuber of the year more or less withered, the tuber in the making for the future season and sometimes an old one totally withered from the previous year.

Orchids are fairly tall plants (20 to 60 cm), rather robust and easily spotted in meadows, wastelands or light undergrowth. The preferred soils are generally calcareous or marly and rather dry.

The male orchid is of medium size, usually 15 to 30 cm, sometimes up to 50 cm. The stem is relatively thick, the leaves spread on the ground or sheathing and spotted ( but not always and this will therefore not be a distinctive criterion ). The flowers are brightly colored ranging from pink to purple with a white central part speckled with red. Generally, the numerous or not many flowers are grouped and touch each other.

The male orchid is found almost everywhere in France, mainly on calcareous soils and up to 2000 meters, which makes it one of the most common orchids in our country. The plant likes cool meadows and roadsides. It flowers from April to the end of June depending on the region and altitude.

Identification does not normally pose problems, but in recent years several species have been described that were previously considered to be simple variants of Orchis mascula: Orchis ichnusae (only in Corsica), Orchis olbiensis (only around the Mediterranean), Orchis langei (found in the Pyrenees) in particular. Given the very wide distribution of Orchis male and possible variability, separating these latter species from the "mascula" species may prove very difficult.