A TYPE of orchid which is so rare it doesn't yet have a common English name has been discovered in Cumbria.

“X Dactyloglossum mixtum” is a cross between a frog orchid (Coeloglossum viride) and a common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and was spotted at Plantlife's Augill Pasture reserve, near Brough.

Since 2000, this hybrid has only been found at about 15 sites in Britain. It's the first time this hybrid has been spotted and recorded in Cumbria.

The orchid was spotted by Lois Harbron who had been counting the frog orchids at Augill.

She said: “I knew instantly what it was. It’s something I had hoped to see somewhere, but I didn’t expect to find it at Augill.

"Despite strong wind and heavy rain, I had a huge beam on my face as I went home.”

As its Latin name “mixtum” suggests, this beautiful hybrid really is a mixture of both its parents. The distinctive pink colour and wide lip are inherited from the common spotted orchid, while the compact flowers with a hooded upper petals come from the frog orchid parent.

Dr Trevor Dines, Plantlife botanical specialist, said: "This mixing of genes is, of course, the very essence of evolution.

"Orchids like these are often described as still ‘actively evolving’ and we occasionally see new species emerging from this process. Whenever you find several different species of orchids growing together, keep your eye out for hybrids."