Fragrant orchid

Appearance

''Gymnadenia conopsea'' reaches on average 20–60 centimetres of height, with a maximum of 80 centimetres . These plants are bulbous geophytes, as they bring their buds in underground tubers or bulbs, organs that annually produce new stems, leaves and flowers. Furthermore these orchids are "terrestrial", because unlike "epiphyte" species do not live at the expense of other plants of major sizes.

The stem is leafy and robust, with a striated surface. The leaves are long, narrow and lanceolate and vary from 3 to 7. The leaf color is gray-green. Size of leaf: width 1 to 2 cm, length 10 – 25 cm.

These orchids have two ovoidal bulbs, deeply webbed and with many small and short lobes. Size of tubers: 1 to 3.5 cm.

The inflorescence is 5–25 centimetres long and it is composed of flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes . These inflorescences are scented and genes underlying eugenol production have been identified in Gymnadenia conopsea, Gymnadenia odoratissima and Gymnadenia densiflora The flowers are petiolated, placed in the axils of long bracts and reach on average 8–14 centimetres . They have a distinctive three lobed lip and long spurs. Their light scent is similar to cloves. Their colors vary from white and pink to pink-purple, more rarely white. These flowers bloom in the Summer, from June to July. They are hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects , including moths. The species is almost exclusively pollinated by moths . The most common pollinators are the small elephant hawk-moth , hummingbird hawk-moth , silver Y , burnished brass and large yellow underwing . Fruit set is high with an average of 73%. The seeds germination is conditioned by the presence of specific fungi.

Naming

The name of the genus ''Gymnadenia'' is formed from Greek words and and refers to the characteristics of the organs for secreting nectar. The specific Latin name "conopsea" derives from the Greek ' , literally meaning "mosquito-like", probably because of the similarity of the long spur of the flower with the mouthparts of a mosquito.

The scientific binomial name of this plant was initially ''Orchis conopsea'', proposed by the Swedish naturalist and botanist Carl von Linné in his ' of 1753. The name has been subsequently amended to the one currently accepted , by the British botanist Robert Brown in 1813. In German, this plant is called ' or '; in French, is called ' or '; in Italy, it is called ' ; in Croatian, it is known under '.* ''Gymnadenia conopsea'' subsp. ''conopsea''
⤷  ''Gymnadenia conopsea'' subsp. ''montana'' Bisse

Distribution

This plant is quite common throughout northern Europe with the exception of the Dinaric Alps. In Asia it is common in areas to the north of the Himalayas.

Habitat

This species habitat includes mountain meadows and pastures, grassland and fens. They grow on siliceous and calcareous substrate, mildly damp and with low nutritional value, at an altitude of 0–2,400 metres above sea level.