Orchis italica
Italian orchid (Orchis italica )
The Italian Orchid (Orchis italica ) belongs to the genus of orchids (Orchis ) in the orchid family plants ( Orchideaceae ). The botanical name is derived from the Greek orchis όρχις = testicles and the Latin italicus = in - together or from Italy. The name refers to the plant described as holotype from Italy and makes no statement about the distribution area. The species is found throughout the Mediterranean area.
Description
Habitus and sheets
The Italian orchid is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the average plant height of 20 to 50 centimeters, but also up to 70 inches may be high. This Geophyt forms two large, round to ovoid tubers than outlasting. The stem has at the base of two to four scale leaves. The five to ten spotted or unspotted leaves are curled on the edge, their size varies in length between 5-13 inches and 1-3 inches in width.
Inflorescence and flowers
The dense, rich flowering inflorescence is hemispherically shaped to cylindrical. The short bracts are up to one third as long as the ovary. The basic color of the flowers is white to pink with red spots. The sepals ( sepals ) are lanceolate acuminate, 8-15 mm long and 3-5 mm wide. The lateral petals ( petals ) are tongue- shaped, 5-10 mm long and form a pointed helmet with vein -like drawing. The lip ( labellum ) is deeply divided three-lobed and 12 to 19 millimeters long. The spur, 4-8 mm long, is bent downward.
The flowering period extends over the months (February) March to May.
Genetics and Development
The Italian Orchid has a karyotype of two sets of chromosomes and each chromosome 21 ( Cytology: 2n = 42).
The seed of this orchid contains no nutritive tissue for the seedling. Therefore Germination occurs only when infected by a root fungus ( mycorrhiza ).
The period from germination to the development of flowerable plant is not known.
Ecology
The Italian orchid grows on dry meadows, in light forests and maquis up to an altitude of 1300 m above sea level. NN. The plant prefers dry to alternating wet and base- rich soils with a pH value of 7.0 to 7.6.
Dissemination
The area of distribution of the Italian leaved orchid extending from North Africa, Spain and Portugal over the whole Mediterranean region to Lebanon.
After Buttler ( see Reference ) it is a Florenelement the Mediterranean sub-Mediterranean zone Flore.
Nature protection and hazard
Like all orchid species occurring in Europe is also Italian orchid under strict protection of European and national laws.
The Italian Orchid is the most commonly encountered Orchis - Art of the Mediterranean area.
Subspecies, varieties, hybrids
Subspecies are not known by the Italian orchid.
As varieties of the following types are used:
- Orchis italica var albiflora Nicora ex Fiori & Paol. 1896 pure white flowers
- Orchis italica var maculata Soó 1932
- Orchis italica var purpurea Voeth with purple flowers.
The following hybrids are detected:
- Orchis × appollinaris Baumann & Halx 1971 ( Orchis italica × Orchis Simia )
- Orchis × diversifolia Gaudagno 1923 ( Orchis italica Orchis tridentata × )
- × Orchiaceras bivonae Soó 1940 ( Orchis italica × Aceras anthropophorum )
System
The Italian Orchid was described in 1798 by the French theologian Jean Louis Marie Poiret ( 1755-1834 ) first. This basionym is also the today valid botanical name: Orchis italica Poiret 1798.
Further descriptions of this type are defined as synonyms:
- Orchis militaris Poiret 1789
- Orchis longicornis Lam. 1798
- Orchis tephrosanthos Desf. 1799
- Orchis longicruris Link 1800
- Orchis undulatifolia Biv. 1807
- Orchis welwitschii Rchb.f. 1851
Taxonomically the Italian orchid belongs within the orchids (Orchis ) in the Orchis militaris - form a circle and the Orchis militaris - group, which continues to be the military orchid (Orchis militaris ), the monkey orchid (Orchis Simia ), Dotted Orchid (Orchis punctulata ), Galilee orchid ( Orchis Galilee ), the Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) and Stevens (Orchis stevenii ) belong.
According to Bateman et al (see Special literature ) is one of the Ohnhorn ( Aceras anthropophorum ) also to this group. ( Note, see: systematics fire orchid (Orchis ustulata ) )
Gallery
Orchis italica Inflorescence - Portugal
Orchis italica Inflorescence - Cyprus
Orchis italica Inflorescence - Cyprus
Orchis italica flowers
Orchis italica Flowers - Mallorca