Orchis is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), occurring mainly in Europe and Northwest Africa, and ranging as far as Tibet, Mongolia, and Xinjiang. The name is from the Ancient Greek ('), meaning "testicle", from the appearance of the paired subterranean tuberoids.
Description
These terrestrial orchids have root tubers instead of pseudobulbs. They are extremely diverse in appearance. They produce an erect stem. The inflorescence is a cylindrical to globular spike, long, with yellow, red to purple flowers. They start flowering at the base, slowly progressing upwards, except for the monkey orchid (Orchis simia), which flowers in reverse order.
Taxonomy
The original genus Orchis used to contain more than 1,300 names. Since it was polyphyletic, it was divided by Pridgeon et al. into several new genera (see Reference), including Ponerorchis, Schizodium, and Steveniella.
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepted 22 species, along with a number of subspecies:
- Orchis adenocheila <small>Czerniak.</small> (Iran)
- Orchis anatolica <small>Boiss.</small> (including Orchis troodi <small>(Renz) P.Delforge</small>) â Anatolian orchid (Cyprus, Turkey, Southern Aegean Islands, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Iran)
- Orchis anthropophora <small>(L.) All.</small> (Western Europe to Mediterranean)
- Orchis brancifortii <small>Biv.</small> (Southern Italy, Sicilia, Sardinia)
- Orchis canariensis <small>Lindl.</small>
- Orchis deuterodelamainii <small>J.M.H.Shaw</small>
- Orchis galilaea <small>(Bornm. & M.Schulze) Schltr.</small> (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine)
- Orchis italica <small>Poir.</small> â Man orchid, Italian orchid (Mediterranean)
- Orchis laeta <small>Steinh.</small>
- Orchis mascula <small>(L.) L.</small> â Early purple orchid, (N. & C. Europe to Iran, Canary Islands)
- Orchis mascula subsp. ichnusae <small>Corrias</small>
- Orchis mascula subsp. laxifloriformis <small>Rivas Goday & B.Rodr.</small>
- Orchis mascula subsp. mascula
- Orchis mascula subsp. scopulorum <small>(Summerh.) H.Sund. ex H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.</small>
- Orchis mascula subsp. speciosa <small>(Mutel) Hegi</small>
- Orchis militaris <small>L.</small> â Military orchid (Europe to Mongolia)
- Orchis militaris subsp. militaris
- Orchis militaris subsp. stevenii <small>(Rchb.f.) B.Baumann & al.</small>
- Orchis olbiensis <small>Reut. ex Gren.</small> (NW. Italy - to NW. Africa)
- Orchis pallens <small>L.</small> â Pale-flowered orchid (Europe to Caucasus)
- Orchis patens <small>Desf.</small> (Central Mediterranean to NW. Africa)
- Orchis patens subsp. canariensis <small>(Lindl.) Asch. & Graebn.</small>
- Orchis patens subsp. patens
- Orchis pauciflora <small>Ten.</small> (Albania, Corsica, Greece, Italy, Crete and Yugoslavia)
- Orchis provincialis <small>Balb. ex Lam. & DC.</small> (SC. & S. Europe to Caucasus, NW Africa)
- Orchis punctulata <small>Steven ex Lindl.</small> â Small-dotted orchid (SE. Europe to W. Asia)
- Orchis purpurea <small>Huds.</small> â Lady orchid, purple orchid (Europe to Caucasus, Algeria)
- Orchis purpurea subsp. caucasica <small>(Regel) B.Baumann & al.</small>
- Orchis purpurea subsp. purpurea
- Orchis quadripunctata <small>Cirillo ex Ten.</small> â Four-spotted orchid (Sardinia to Eastern Mediterranean)
- Orchis simia <small>Lam.</small> â Monkey orchid (Europe to Iran, N. Africa)
- Orchis simia subsp. simia
- Orchis simia subsp. taubertiana <small>(B.Baumann & H.Baumann) Kreutz</small>
- Orchis sitiaca <small>(Renz) P.Delforge</small>
- Orchis spitzelii <small>Saut. ex W.D.J.Koch</small> â Spitzel's orchid (Sweden (Gotland), E. Spain to Caucasus, NW. Africa)
- Orchis spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis <small>(Lacaita) D.Rivera & Lopez Velez</small>
- Orchis spitzelii subsp. nitidifolia <small>(W.P.Teschner) Soó</small>
- Orchis spitzelii subsp. spitzelii
Natural hybrids
, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted 37 hybrid species, along with a number of hybrid subspecies:
- Orchis ÃÂ algeriensis <small>B.Baumann & H.Baumann</small> (O. patens ÃÂ O. spitzelii)
- Orchis ÃÂ angusticruris <small>Franch.</small> (O. purpurea ÃÂ O. simia) (Europe to Caucasus)
- Orchis ÃÂ angusticruris nothosubsp. angusticruris (O. purpurea subsp. purpurea ÃÂ O. simia)
- Orchis ÃÂ angusticruris nothosubsp. transcaucasica <small>B.Baumann & al.</small> (O. purpurea subsp. caucasuca ÃÂ O. simia)
- Orchis ÃÂ apollinaris <small>W.Rossi & al.</small> (O. italica ÃÂ O. simia) (Italy)
- Orchis ÃÂ aurunca <small>W.Rossi & Minut.</small> (O. pauciflora ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis ÃÂ bergonii <small>Nanteuil</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. simia) (Western Mediterranean)
- Orchis ÃÂ beyrichii <small>(Rchb.f.) A.Kern.</small> (O. militaris ÃÂ O. simia) (Europe to Turkey)
- Orchis ÃÂ beyrichii nothosubsp. beyrichii (O. militaris subsp. militaris ÃÂ O. simia)
- Orchis ÃÂ beyrichii nothosubsp. golestanica <small>(Renz) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.</small> (O. militaris subsp. stevenii ÃÂ O. simia)
- Orchis ÃÂ bispurium <small>(G.Keller) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. militaris ÃÂ O. purpurea)
- Orchis ÃÂ bivonae <small>Tod.</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. italica) (Southern Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ buelii <small>Wildh.</small> (O. provincialis ÃÂ O. quadripunctata)
- Orchis ÃÂ caesii <small>De Angelis & Fumanti</small> (O. italica ÃÂ O. purpurea)
- Orchis ÃÂ calliantha <small>Renz & Taubenheim</small> (O. punctulata ÃÂ O. simia) (Turkey)
- Orchis ÃÂ chabalensis <small>B.Baumann & al.</small> (O. militaris subsp. stevenii ÃÂ O. punctulata)
- Orchis ÃÂ colemanii <small>Cortesi</small> (O. mascula ÃÂ O. pauciflora)
- Orchis ÃÂ fallax <small>(De Not.) Willk.</small> (O. patens ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis ÃÂ fitzii <small>Hautz.</small> (O. anatolica ÃÂ O. mascula) (Turkey)
- Orchis ÃÂ hybrida <small>(Lindl.) Boenn. ex Rchb.</small> (O. militaris ÃÂ O. purpurea) (Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ klopfensteiniae <small>P.Delforge</small> (O. pallens ÃÂ O. spitzelii) (SW Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ kretzschmariorum <small>B.Baumann & H.Baumann</small> (O. anatolica ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis ÃÂ ligustica <small>Ruppert</small> (O. mascula ÃÂ O. patens) (Mediterranean)
- Orchis àloreziana <small>Brügger</small>(O. mascula àO. pallens) (Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ loreziana nothosubsp. kisslingii <small>(Beck) Potucek</small> (O. mascula subsp. speciosa ÃÂ O. pallens) (Eastern Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ loreziana nothosubsp. loreziana (O. mascula subsp. mascula ÃÂ O. pallens) (Central Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ lucensis <small>Antonetti & Bertolini</small> (O. pauciflora ÃÂ O. simia)
- Orchis ÃÂ macra <small>Lindl.</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. purpurea) (Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ orphanidesii <small>(E.G.Camus) B.Bock</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. mascula)
- Orchis ÃÂ palanchonii <small>G.Foelsche & W.Foelsche</small> (O. olbiensis ÃÂ O. pauciflora)
- Orchis ÃÂ penzigiana <small>A.Camus</small> (O. mascula ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis àpenzigiana nothosubsp. jailae <small>(Soó) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.</small> (O. mascula subsp. speciosa àO. provincialis)
- Orchis ÃÂ penzigiana nothosubsp. penzigiana (O. mascula subsp. mascula ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis ÃÂ penzigiana nothosubsp. sardoa <small>Scrugli & M.P.Grasso</small> (O. mascula subsp. ichnusae ÃÂ O. provincialis)
- Orchis àpermixta <small>Soó</small> (O. mascula subsp. signifera àO. pallens àO. provincialis) (Crimea)
- Orchis ÃÂ petterssonii <small>G.Keller ex Pett.</small> (O. mascula ÃÂ O. spitzelii) (Europe, NW Africa)
- Orchis ÃÂ petterssonii nothosubsp. incantata <small>(P.Delforge) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.</small> (O. mascula subsp. laxifloriformis ÃÂ O. spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis)
- Orchis ÃÂ petterssonii nothosubsp. petterssonii (O. mascula subsp. mascula ÃÂ O. spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis)
- Orchis ÃÂ plessidiaca <small>Renz</small> (O. pallens ÃÂ O. provincialis) (SE Europe to Krym)
- Orchis ÃÂ pseudoanatolica <small>H.Fleischm.</small> (O. pauciflora ÃÂ O. quadripunctata) (SE Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ schebestae <small>Griebl</small> (O. mascula ÃÂ O. quadripunctata)
- Orchis ÃÂ serraniana <small>P.Delforge</small> (O. mascula subsp. laxifloriformis ÃÂ O. olbiensis)
- Orchis ÃÂ sezikiana <small>B.Baumann & H.Baumann</small> (O. anatolica ÃÂ O. quadripunctata)
- Orchis ÃÂ spuria <small>Rchb.f.</small> (O. anthropophora ÃÂ O. militaris) (Europe)
- Orchis ÃÂ thriftiensis <small>Renz</small> (O. anatolica ÃÂ O. pauciflora)
- Orchis ÃÂ tochniana <small>Kreutz & Scraton</small> (O. italica ÃÂ O. punctulata) (Cyprus)
- Orchis ÃÂ willingiorum <small>B.Baumann & H.Baumann</small> (O. provincialis ÃÂ O. spitzelii)
- Orchis àwulffiana <small>Soó</small> (O. punctulata àO. purpurea) (Crimea to caucasus)
- Orchis àwulffiana nothosubsp. suckowii <small>(Kümpel) B.Baumann & al.</small> (O. punctulata àO. purpurea subsp. caucasica)
- Orchis ÃÂ wulffiana nothosubsp. wulffiana (O. punctulata ÃÂ O. purpurea subsp. purpurea)
Intergeneric hybrids
- Orchiophrys (Ophrys x Orchis)
- Orchiserapias (Orchis x Serapias)
See also
References
External links