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Männliches Knabenkraut

Orchis mascula

Summary 4

Orchis mascula, the early purple orchid, is a species of orchid in the genus Orchis.

Description 5

Orchis mascula is a perennialherbaceous plant with stems up to 50–60 centimetres (20–24 in) of height, green at the base and purple on the apex. The root system consists of two tubers, rounded or ellipsoid. The leaves, grouped at the base of the stem, are oblong-lanceolate, pale green, sometimes with brownish-purple speckles. The inflorescence is 7.5–12.5 centimetres (3–5 in) long and it is composed of 6 to 20 flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes. The flower size is about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) and the color varies from pink to violet. The lateral sepals are ovate-lanceolate and erect, the median one, together with the petals, is smaller and cover the gynostegium. The labellum is three-lobed and convex, with crenulated margins and the basal part clearer and dotted with purple-brown spots. The spur is cylindrical or clavate, horizontal or ascending. The gynostegium is short, with reddish-green anthers. It blooms from April to June.

This orchid is devoid of nectar and attracts pollinating insects (bees and wasps of the genera Apis, Bombus, Eucera, Andrena, Psithyrus and Xylocopa, and sometimes beetles) with the appearance of its flower which is reminiscent of other species.

Distribution and habitat 5

The species is widespread across Europe, from Portugal to the Caucasus (Ireland, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, most of Russia), in northwest Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) and in the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq) up to Iran. (Codes)

It grows in a variety of habitats, from meadows to mountain pastures and woods, in full sun or shady areas, from 0–2,500 metres (0–8,202 ft) above sea level.

Pollinators 6

This orchid does not reward its pollinators with nectar.

Culture 5

It is referred to as "long purple" by Gertrude in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Gertrude: "Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, that liberal shepherds give a grosser name".

A flour called salep or sachlav is made of the ground tubers of this or some other species of orchids. It contains a nutritious starch-like polysaccharide called glucomannan. In some magical traditions, its root is called Adam and Eve Root. It is said that witches used tubers of this orchid in love potions.

Associations 7

Plant / pollenated
adult of Apoidea pollenates or fertilises flower of Orchis mascula
Other: minor host/prey

Plant / pollenated
adult of Bombus pollenates or fertilises flower of Orchis mascula
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / feeds on
Muntiacus reevesi feeds on Orchis mascula

Plant / pollenated
adult of Psithyrus pollenates or fertilises flower of Orchis mascula
Other: minor host/prey

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Jörg Hempel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/32023375@N06/7988311345
  2. (c) xbejard, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/34323588@N08/5730339699
  3. (c) Allan Hopkins, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoppy1951/8868223285/
  4. Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchis_mascula
  5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchis_mascula
  6. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/12572343
  7. (c) BioImages, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22910723

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