Orchis

Orchis
Orchis italica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Orchideae
Subtribe: Orchidinae
Alliance: Orchis
Genus: Orchis
Tourn. ex L. 1753
Type species
Orchis militaris
L. Sp. Pl.: 943, 1753
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Abrochis Neck.
  • Zoophora Bernh.
  • Strateuma Salisb.
  • Aceras R.Br. in W.T.Aiton
  • × Orchiaceras E.G.Camus
  • Androrchis D.Tyteca & E.Klein

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.[1] The name is from the Ancient Greek ὄρχις orchis, 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.

The original genus Orchis used to contain more than 1,300 names. Since it was polyphyletic, it has been divided by Pridgeon et al., into several new genera (see Reference): Ponerorchis, Schizodium, Steveniella.

Taxonomy

Species

As of June 2014, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 21 species, along with a number of subspecies:[2]

Natural hybrids

As of June 2014, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 37 hybrid species, along with a number of hybrid subspecies:[2]

Intergeneric hybrids

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. 1 2 "Search for Orchis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
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