Limodorum abortivum

Limodorum abortivum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Neottieae
Subtribe:	Limodorinae
Genus:	Limodorum Boehm. (1760)
Species:	L. abortivum
Binomial name
Limodorum abortivum (L.) Sw. (1799)

Limodorum abortivum, commonly known as Violet Limodore, is a species of myco-heterotrophic, achlorophyllous orchid and is native to central and eastern Europe, western Asia and the Mediterranean area.

Limodorum abortivum is a herbaceous rhizomatous plant growing to 85cm, with a lax inflorescence of 10-20 violet flowers produced from April to June. The leaves are reduced to scales and, although Limodorum contains photosynthetic pigments, these are insufficient to support the nutrition of the adult plant which is believed to rely entirely on a mycoheterotrophic or parasitic relationship with fungi, primarily of the family Russulaceae. Seeds are among the largest produced by orchids and seedlings develop very slowly, remaining entirely below ground for 8-10 years before flowering.

Typical Mediterranean habitat for Limodorum abortivum is open woodland of evergreen oak, pine and chestnut from sea level to 1,300 metres.

References

Media related to Limodorum abortivum at Wikimedia Commons