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 (órkhis), 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, 5–15 cm (2–6 in) 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.
As of September 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted 22 species, along with a number of subspecies:
Orchis adenocheila Czerniak. (Iran)
Orchis anatolica Boiss. (including Orchis troodi (Renz) P.Delforge) – Anatolian orchid (Cyprus, Turkey, Southern Aegean Islands, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Iran)
Orchis anthropophora (L.) All. (Western Europe to Mediterranean)
Orchis brancifortii Biv. (Southern Italy, Sicilia, Sardinia)
Orchis canariensis Lindl.
Orchis deuterodelamainii J.M.H.Shaw
Orchis galilaea (Bornm. & M.Schulze) Schltr. (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine)
Orchis italica Poir. – Man orchid, Italian orchid (Mediterranean)
Orchis laeta Steinh.
Orchis mascula (L.) L. – Early purple orchid, (N. & C. Europe to Iran, Canary Islands)
Orchis mascula subsp. ichnusae Corrias
Orchis mascula subsp. laxifloriformis Rivas Goday & B.Rodr.
Orchis mascula subsp. mascula
Orchis mascula subsp. scopulorum (Summerh.) H.Sund. ex H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.
Orchis mascula subsp. speciosa (Mutel) Hegi
Orchis...
