Orchis pallens, the pale orchid or pale-flowered orchid, is a perennialherbaceous plant belonging to the genus Orchis of the family Orchidaceae. It is found in most of Europe ranging from Spain across to the Caucasus. It blooms in spring with pale yellow flowers.
Orchis pallens is the least variable of the Orchis genus.[4]
It has a tuber,[5] which is round,[6] or oval in shape.[4][7] They are 3–3.5cm (1–1in) long and 1.5–2cm (1–1in) in diameter, underneath the tuber are numerous secondary roots which are 10–20cm (4–8in) long.[7]
Above the tuber, it has 4-6 leaves,[7][8] arranged in basal rosette.[8][9][10] The leaves are large,[10]6–15cm (2–6in) long and 1.5–5cm (1–2in) wide.[6][7] They are sometimes so long that they cover the flowers.[8][9] They are unspotted,[10][11] and oblong or oblong-ovate,[7] or lanceolate shaped, green,[8] shiny,[10] bright,[11] and smooth.[7]
In Central Europe, O. pallens is sometimes confused with yellow-flowering form of orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina. They can easily be distinguished from each other by several morphological features, including D. sambucina has leaves which are distributed along the stem.[9]
Orchis pallens has a strong, straight, green stem,[7] which is 15–45cm (5.9–17.7in) tall.[4][5][8]
Orchis pallens is one of the first orchids in the northern part of its distribution area to bloom.[5][9] As it blooms in the spring,[8] or mid spring to late spring,[5] between from late April to late May,[10][7][12] and sometimes in June.[11] The blooms give a fragrance that is similar to elder tree flowers.[11] One source regarded that the flower smells like the urine of cats,[6] and the foul fragrance is mostly nocturnal and foul, notes another source.[8] Although another source claims it is pleasantly and delicately fragrant.[7]
In terms of identification, it can be readily distinguished from the similarly coloured Orchis pauciflora and Orchis provincialis,[10] and also Orchis laeta, by virtue of the total lack of lip markings on the flowers of O. pallens.[10][9] The other mentioned orchid species have red-dots on the flower lips.[9] The unspotted,[11] somewhat darker lip contains no nectar.[5] The labellum or lip is slightly trilobal, wider, slightly convex and longer than the other petals.[4] It is 6-16mm long and 7-16mm wide, slightly arched in the centre, has edges which are rolled up and is yellow-greenish.[7]
Orchis pallens can also be easily differentiated from Dactylorhiza sambucina, by the presence of bracts which protrude through the inflorescence.[10] The bracts of O. pallens are yellow.[6]
The flower of O. pallens is 4–10cm (2–4in) long.[7] The upper outer petals are almost elliptical, blunt, 8-100mm long and 6-80mm wide. The lateral outer petals are of a similar size, but asymmetric, blunt and strongly bent back. The oval to lanceolate shaped, lateral inner petals are 6-80mm long and 40mm wide.[7]
The ovary is 10-15mm long, narrow, arched, twisted and green.[7]
After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule which is 15–20mm (1–1in) long and a bit bloated.[7]
Biochemistry
Diploid results from the basic chromosome number of the genus Orchis of x = 20.
In 1986, the European orchids Orchis mascula, O. pallens and their hybrids were analysed by enzyme electrophoresis on starch gels, this a form of species identification using differing parental alleles.[13]
Similar to Dactylorhiza sambucina and Orchis spitzelii, O. pallens has a chromosome count of 2n = 42/40.[14]
Taxonomy
Orchis pallens (described as Orchis sulphurea) in Curtis 52 on plate 2569 (Illustrated in 1825)
It is commonly known as the pale orchid,[4] or the pale flowered orchid.[15][16]
The scientific name Orchis derives from Ancient Greek ὄρχις orchis, meaning "testicle", from the appearance of the paired subterranean 'tuberoids', while the Latin name pallens refers to the pale colour of the inflorescence.[17]
The distribution of O. pallens is widespread in Europe,[5][4] stretching from northern Spain, heading east across central Europe and the Balkans,[5] to the Middle East and the Caucasus region (or Asia Minor,[7]) in the east.[9] It is found in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France (France (mainland) and Corsica), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.[1] It is missing in the British Isles and Scandinavia.[4] The northern limit of its distribution in Germany and Poland,[9] mainly southern Poland.[7]
2 new localities of Orchis pallens in the Chełm mesoregion (Silesian Upland, southern Poland), were found in 2014 in the vicinity of Ligota Dolna and Oleszka villages in Opole Province. [29]
In Bohemia, it is very rare and it grows only in two places (Strakonice and Podkrkonosi). In Moravia, it grows in more places such as (White Carpathians, Vsetin Hills, Beskydy, Chriby and others).[4]
Habitat
Orchis pallens is found from the lowlands to the mountains,[7][4] including most of the significant mountain ranges in Europe.[10] It can be found within a very wide altitudinal range,[9] of between 1,000 to 2,500m (3,300 to 8,200ft) above sea level.[10][9]
It grows in damp meadows,[5][29] open meadows,[9] on shrubland,[4] in clearings,[7] in wetlands (inland), rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs and mountain peaks),[1] and in forests,[5] (either sparse forests or on the edges of forests,[4][9]) either deciduous or coniferous.[10] Including pine forests,[7] beech forests, mixed hornbeam-linden or oak-hornbeam forests. It avoids deep shaded woodland.[9]
It is considered nowhere in its wide distribution area, common and in most areas it is deemed extremely rare,[10][1] it is uncommon and occurs sporadically almost everywhere in Central Europe.[9]
The main threats to the newly found localities of Orchis pallens are succession processes in xerothermic The populations of the orchid and their habitats are declining, especially in central Europe due to various anthropogenic threats including: the stopping of the coppicing of woods, this causes a decrease in the amount of light reaching the forest floor.[1] Overgrowth of suitable habitats presents one of the greatest threats to the existing populations.[9] Other human threats include farming (on the grassland communities,[29] ) urbanisation and infrastructure expansion, tourism and deforestation and plant collection.[1]
Further habitat threats are posed by lack of rain, late frost, damage by wild animals such as badgers and wild boars, (Bournérias and Prat 2005, Delforge 1995, Giros 2009, Kretzschmar et al. 2007, Pignatti 1982, Rossi 2002).[1] This has meant many population sites have been declining rapidly especially in central Europe.[1]
Owing to the decline of its natural populations, O. pallens has been protected by law in many European countries (Averyanov 2008: 401-402; Elias et al. 2015; Grulich 2012; Kiraly 2007; Ludwig & Schnittler, 1996; Moser et al. 2002; Protopova 2009: 205; Z & Fiobor 2014: 783-786).[9]
It is on the 'Carpathian Red List of Endangered Species'[28] (covering Slovakia and Romania),[31] and it is in "Red book of vascular plants from Romania" (Dihoru & Negrean 2009).[28]
In southern Poland, active nature protection is employing measures such as mowing or shrub removal.[29]
It is a highly endangered species in Czech, it is protected by law,[4] and it is also covered by the protection of the internal CITES convention.[4][1]
Ecology
Even though the plant does not produce nectar, the flowers are pollinated by bees, who mistakenly land on the plant when looking for the spring pea (Lathyrus vernus) which does produce nectar.[10]
Culture
It was named Orchid of the Year in 2012 by the 'Arbeitskreis Heimische Orchideen' (AHO, Native Orchid Research Group), a German orchid conservation federation.[32]
Related Research Articles
The Orchidaceae are a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants, with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant, commonly known as the orchid family.
Dactylorhiza fuchsii, the common spotted orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae.
Gymnadenia is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) containing 22 terrestrial species. The former genus Nigritella is now included in Gymnadenia.
Anacamptis is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family (Orchidaceae); it is often abbreviated as Ant in horticulture. This genus was established by Louis Claude Richard in 1817; the type species is the pyramidal orchid and it nowadays contains about one-third of the species placed in the "wastebin genus" Orchis before this was split up at the end of the 20th century, among them many that are of hybrid origin. The genus' scientific name is derived from the Greek word anakamptein, meaning "to bend backwards".
Dactylorhiza is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Its species are commonly called marsh orchids or spotted orchids,Dactylorhiza were previously classified under Orchis which has two round tubers.
Anacamptis morio, the green-winged orchid or green-veined orchid, is a flowering plant of the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It usually has purple flowers, and is found in Europe and the Middle East.
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 ὄρχις orchis, meaning "testicle", from the appearance of the paired subterranean tuberoids.
Dactylorhiza majalis, the broad-leaved marsh orchid, is a terrestrial Eurasian orchid.
Coeloglossum is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It has long been considered to have only one species, Coeloglossum viride, the frog orchid. Some recent classifications regard Coeloglossum as part of the larger genus, Dactylorhiza, so that C. viride becomes Dactylorhiza viridis. Other sources continue to keep Coeloglossum viride separate.
Orchis mascula, the early-purple orchid, early spring orchis, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae.
Neotinea ustulata, the burnt orchid or burnt-tip orchid, is a European terrestrial orchid native to mountains in central and southern Europe, growing at up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) elevation. The plant is considered Endangered in Great Britain and Least Concern internationally based on IUCN Red List criteria. The burnt-tip orchid was voted the county flower of Wiltshire in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife.
Dactylorhiza lapponica, the Lapland marsh-orchid, is an orchid found in Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy and the Czech Republic.
Dactylorhiza maculata, known as the heath spotted-orchid or moorland spotted orchid, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae. It is widespread in mountainous regions across much of Europe from Portugal and Iceland east to Russia. It is also found in Algeria, Morocco, and western Siberia.
Dactylorhiza elata, the robust marsh orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to the western Mediterranean region.
Dactylorhiza sambucina, the elder-flowered orchid, is an herbaceous plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae. It is quite common and widespread throughout much of Europe from Portugal east to Finland and Ukraine. The flowers appear in spring and summer, in various colors from yellow to purple.
Orchis anatolica is a species of flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is native to Crete, Cyprus, the East Aegean Islands, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.
Orchis provincialis, the Provence orchid, is a species of orchid in the genus Orchis.
Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. traunsteinerioides, known as the narrow-leaved marsh-orchid and Pugsley's marsh orchid, is a subspecies of Dactylorhiza majalis found only in Britain and Ireland. It is also treated as the species Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides.
Neotinea lactea, the milky orchid, is a species of orchid found in Europe from France to Turkey and in two North African countries: Algeria and Tunisia. Its flowers are pale to light pink, reflecting its Latin root lacteus (milky).
1 2 3 Azăr, G. L.; Vasile, D.; Durdu, C.; Jitaru, P.; Algasovschi, M. (2018). "Orchis pallens L. in Baiului Mountains, a new location for Romania". Revista de Silvicultură și Cinegetică. 23 (42): 80–83.
1 2 3 4 Folcik, Łukasz; Urbisz, Andrzej (2020). "New localities of Orchis pallens (Orchidaceae) in the Silesian Upland". Fragm. Flor. et Geobot. Pol. XXVII (2): 739–742.
Working groups local orchids (ed.): The orchids of Germany. Working groups of domestic orchids, Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel 2005, ISBN 3-00-014853-1
Helmut Baumann, Siegfried Künkele: The wild growing orchids of Europe. Franckh, Stuttgart 1982, ISBN 3-440-05068-8
Karl-Peter Buttler: Orchids. The wild growing species and subspecies of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (= Steinbach's natural guide. 15). Mosaik, Munich 1986, ISBN 3-570-04403-3
Robert L. Dressler: The orchids - biology and systematics of the Orchidaceae (original title: The Orchids. Natural History and Classification. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. Et al. 1981). Translated by Guido J. Braem with the assistance of Marion Zerbst. Bechtermünz, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-86047-413-8
Hans Sundermann: European and Mediterranean orchids. 2nd Edition. Brücke, Hildesheim 1975, ISBN 3-87105-010-5
John G. Williams, Andrew E. Williams, Norman Arlott: Orchids of Europe with North Africa and Asia Minor (= BLV determination book. 25). Translated, edited and supplemented by Karl-Peter Buttler and Angelika Rommel. BLV, Munich / Bern / Vienna 1979, ISBN 3-405-11901-4
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
