Orchis

Orchis is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It comprises several terrestrial orchids native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. The name derives from the Greek orchis, meaning “testicle,” in reference to the shape of the plant’s tubers in some species. Over the past century, molecular studies have led to taxonomic rearrangements; many species once placed in Orchis have been reassigned to genera such as Anacamptis and Dactylorhiza, while a core group remains in Orchis.

Description: Orchis species are perennial herbs with underground tubers or fleshy rhizomes. They typically form a rosette of leaves at the base and send up a flowering spike bearing several to many bisexual flowers. Flowers are often pale to purple, with a distinctive labellum that is modified for pollination by insects. Pollination usually involves specialized insects; some species mimic insect pheromones or appearance to attract pollinators. Fruits are capsules bearing tiny seeds.

Habitat and ecology: They grow in meadows, pastures, wood margins, and grasslands, from sea level to montane regions. They prefer calcareous soils in open habitats but species vary. Habitat loss, overgrazing, and collection threaten many populations. Many species are protected in parts of Europe, and some are cultivated by enthusiasts.

Taxonomy and names: The genus was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753; Orchis mascula, the early purple orchid, is the type species. The common name “orchid” ultimately derives from Orchis. The ongoing split of the former Orchis into multiple genera reflects advances in phylogenetics.

Notable species: Orchis mascula, the early purple orchid, is an emblematic representative of the genus in its native range.