Breitblättriges Knabenkraut (MVP)

Breitblättriges Knabenkraut

Dactylorhiza majalis

Summary ⁴

Dactylorhiza majalis (western marsh orchid, broad-leaved marsh orchid, fan orchid, common marsh orchid, or Irish Marsh-orchid) is a terrestrial European orchid. Its flowering period begins at lower elevations as early as the beginning of May and ends in higher elevations at the end of July. The lowest blossoms usually open even before the stem has reached its full height.

Description ⁵

The western marsh orchid is usually 15 to 40 cm (6 to 16 in.) tall, though some specimens may reach 60 cm (2 ft). Three to eight dark spotted leaves are distributed on the stem, which is hollow. The lower leaves are ovate to lanceolate and 6 to 18 cm (2⅜ to 7 in.) long and 1.5 to 3.5 cm (⅝ to 1⅜ in.) wide. The upper leaves are increasingly smaller and more lanceolate. The bracts are about as long as the blossom and cover it before it blooms. The densely flowered inflorescence, which is 4 to 15 cm (1½ to 6 in.) long, is at first conical, but distinctly cylindrical when in full blossom. The seven to forty blossoms are colored purplish red, rarely light pink or white. The lateral tepals of the external circle of the perianth stand obliquely or vertically upright. They are 7 to 12 mm (¼ to ½ in.) long and 2.5 to 5 mm (⅛ to ³⁄₁₆ in.) wide. The middle tepal is smaller and forms a "helmet" together with the two lateral tepals of the internal circle. These are 6 to 11 mm (¼ to ⁷⁄₁₆ in.) long. The trilobate lip is 5 to 10 mm (³⁄₁₆ to ⅜ in.) long and 7 to 14 mm (¼ to ⁹⁄₁₆ in.) wide. The shape and pattern of the lips are variable. In the lighter central area of the lip the markings are made up of lines, streaks, or dots. The spur is bent slightly downwards and is not quite as long as the ovary. The tuber has a palmate division and an irregular shape.

The western marsh orchid has a karyotype of two sets of forty chromosomes. The seed of this orchid contains no endosperm for the embryo. Therefore, germination can take place only by means of infection with a root fungus (mycorrhiza).

Taxonomy ⁵

In 1828 Ludwig Reichenbach described the western marsh orchid as Orchis majalis. The name became the basionym after Peter Francis Hunt and Victor Samuel Summerhayes transferred the species to the genus Dactylorhiza in 1965. Sometimes the name Dactylorhiza fistulosa is used, but since this description is not valid, the name cannot be used despite its earlier publication in 1794 as Orchis fistulosa.

Many names have been proposed at the subspecies, variety and form levels, but as of June 2014 only the following are recognized:

Taxon biology ⁶

Some orchids are named after the shape of their flower. Others are named after their strong fragrance. The broad-leaved orchid is named after its broad leaves. The length of the leaves are no more than four times their greatest width, which is found about halfway along the leaf. And the leaves are spotted. These spots inspired the Frisians to call this plant 'frouljutriennen', which means women's tears. The broad-leaved orchid is a relatively short plant. It starts flowering before the stem has reached its greatest height. Therefore, the first flowers are sometimes hidden among the leaves.

Sources and Credits

(c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Dactylorhiza%20majalis%20ssp%20majalis%2017307.jpg
(c) Jörg Hempel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/32023375@N06/7188865446
(c) Marek Velechovský, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/101162.jpg
Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactylorhiza_majalis
(c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactylorhiza_majalis
(c) Copyright Ecomare, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22758183

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