Fragrant orchid
Encyclopedia
Fragrant Orchid is an herbaceous
plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae
.
The scientific binomial name of this plant was initially Orchis conopsea, proposed by the Swedish naturalist and botanist Carl von Linné (1707 - 1778) in 1753. The name has been subsequently amended to the one currently accepted (Gymnadenia conopsea), by the British botanist Robert Brown (1773 - 1858) in 1813. In German this plant is called Mücken Handwurtz-or-Mücken Nacktdrüse; in French is called Gymnadenia Moucheron or Orchis Moucheron; in Italy is called Manina rosea (pink hand).
The stem is leafy and robust, with a striated surface. The leaves
are long, narrow and lanceolate and vary from 3 to 7. The leaf color is gray-green. Size of leaf: width 1 to 2 cm, length 10 - 25 cm.
These orchids have two ovoidal bulbs, deeply webbed and with many small and short lobes. Size of tubers: 1 to 3.5 cm.
The inflorescence is 5–25 cm (2–9.8 ) long and it is composed of flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes (up to 50 flowers per spike). The flowers are petiolated, placed in the axils of long bracts and reach on average 8–14 cm (3.1–5.5 ). They have a distinctive three lobed lip and long spurs, similar to Aquilegia
. Their light scent is similar to cloves. Their colors vary from white and pink to pink-purple, more rarely white. These flowers bloom in the Summer, from June to July. They are hermaphrodite
and pollinated by insects (entomophily
), including moth
s. The seeds germination is conditioned by the presence of specific fungi.
with the exception of the Dinaric Alps
. In Asia it is common in areas to the north of the Himalayas
.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
.
Etymology
The name of the genus Gymnodenia is formed from Greek words "gymnos" meaning "nude" and "adèn" meaning "gland" and refers to the characteristics of the organs for secreting nectar. The specific Latin name "conopsea" derives from the Greek "konops", literally means "like mosquito", probably because of the similarity of the long spur of the flower with the mouthparts of that insect.The scientific binomial name of this plant was initially Orchis conopsea, proposed by the Swedish naturalist and botanist Carl von Linné (1707 - 1778) in 1753. The name has been subsequently amended to the one currently accepted (Gymnadenia conopsea), by the British botanist Robert Brown (1773 - 1858) in 1813. In German this plant is called Mücken Handwurtz-or-Mücken Nacktdrüse; in French is called Gymnadenia Moucheron or Orchis Moucheron; in Italy is called Manina rosea (pink hand).
Description
Gymnadenia conopsea reaches on average 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 ) of height, with a maximum of 80 centimetres (31.5 in). These plants are bulbous geophytes, as they bring their buds in underground tubers or bulbs, organs that annually produce new stems, leaves and flowers. Furthermore these orchids are "terrestrial", because unlike "epiphyte" species do not live at the expense of other plants of major sizes.The stem is leafy and robust, with a striated surface. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are long, narrow and lanceolate and vary from 3 to 7. The leaf color is gray-green. Size of leaf: width 1 to 2 cm, length 10 - 25 cm.
These orchids have two ovoidal bulbs, deeply webbed and with many small and short lobes. Size of tubers: 1 to 3.5 cm.
The inflorescence is 5–25 cm (2–9.8 ) long and it is composed of flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes (up to 50 flowers per spike). The flowers are petiolated, placed in the axils of long bracts and reach on average 8–14 cm (3.1–5.5 ). They have a distinctive three lobed lip and long spurs, similar to Aquilegia
Aquilegia
Aquilegia is a genus of about 60-70 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers.-Etymology:The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle , because...
. Their light scent is similar to cloves. Their colors vary from white and pink to pink-purple, more rarely white. These flowers bloom in the Summer, from June to July. They are hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
and pollinated by insects (entomophily
Entomophily
Entomophily is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by insects. Several insect are reported to be responsible for the pollination of many plant species, particularly bees, Lepidoptera , wasps, flies, ants and beetles. Some plant species co-evolved with a particular pollinator, such...
), including moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s. The seeds germination is conditioned by the presence of specific fungi.
Distribution
This plant is quite common throughout northern EuropeNorthern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
with the exception of the Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
. In Asia it is common in areas to the north of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
.
Habitat
This species habitat includes mountain meadows and pastures, grassland and fens. They grow on siliceous and calcareous substrate, mildly damp and with low nutritional value, at an altitude of 0–2400 m (0–7,874 ) above sea level.Subspecies
- Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. conopsea
- Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. montana Bisse
Synonyms
- Gymnadenia alpina (Turcz. ex Rchb.f.) Czerep. 1981
- Gymnadenia anisoloba Peterm. 1849
- Gymnadenia comigera Rchb. 1830
- Gymnadenia gracillima SchurSchurSchur is a German or Jewish surname and may refer to:* Alexander Schur , German footballer* Dina Feitelson-Schur , Israeli educator* Fritz Schur , Danish businessman* Gustav-Adolf Schur , German cyclist...
1871 - Gymnadenia ibukiensis MakinoMakinoMakino is a global machine tool manufacturer.-History:Makino was established in 1937 by Tsunezo Makino in Japan, developing Japan's first numerically controlled milling machine in 1958 and Japan's first machining center in 1966....
1912 - Gymnadenia orchidis var. pantlingii RenzRenzRenz may refer to:*Martina Ertl-Renz, a German former alpine skier*Thomas Maria Renz, a German theologian*Circus Renz, historical circus in Germany*Circus Herman Renz, the largest circus of the Netherlands...
2001 - Gymnadenia ornithis Rich. 1818
- Gymnadenia psuedoconopsea Gren. RouyRouyRouy is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 585. On 1 January 2004, the estimate was 598.-References:*...
1912 - Gymnadenia pyrenaica Giraudias 1882
- Gymnadenia sibirica Turcz. ex Lindl. 1835
- Gymnadenia splendida Dworschak 2002
- Gymnadenia splendida subsp. odorata Dworschak 2002
- Gymnadenia transsilvanica SchurSchurSchur is a German or Jewish surname and may refer to:* Alexander Schur , German footballer* Dina Feitelson-Schur , Israeli educator* Fritz Schur , Danish businessman* Gustav-Adolf Schur , German cyclist...
1866 - Gymnadenia vernalis Dworschak 2002
- Gymnadenia wahlenbergii Afzel. ex Rchb.f. 1851
- Habenaria conopsea (L.) Benth. (1880)
- Habenaria gymnadenia DruceDruceDruce is a surname. It may refer to:* Frank Druce* George Claridge Druce, English botanist* Herbert Druce , British entomologist* John Druce* Joseph Druce, prisoner who murdered John Geoghan* Thomas W...
1897 - Orchis conopea GrasGrasGras is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
1862 - Orchis conopsea L. 1753
- Orchis cornopica Mill. 1768
- Orchis ornithis Jacq. 1774
- Orchis peloria FoucaultFoucaultFoucault can refer to:People:*Jean-Pierre Foucault , French television host*Léon Foucault , French physicist*Michel Foucault , French philosopher and historian...
ex Poir. 1816 - Orchis pseudoconopea Gren. 1869
- Orchis pseudo-conopsea Gren. 1865
- Orchis pseudoconopsea J.Parm. 1894
- Orchis setacea Gilib. 1792
- Orchis suaveolens Salisb. 1796
- Satyrium conopseum (L.) Wahlenb. 1826