View source for Orchis

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Orchidaceae
|genus=Orchis
|habit=orchid
|lifespan=perennial
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Orchis italica a.JPG
|image_width=180
|image_caption=Orchis italica
}}
'''''Orchis''''' is a genus in the orchid family ([[Orchidaceae]]). This genus gets its name from the Greek  ''orchis'', meaning "testicle", from the appearance of the paired subterranean [[Glossary of botanical terms|tuberoids]].

This genus occurs mainly in Europe, NW Africa, and it stretches as far Tibet, Mongolia, China and Japan.

These terrestrial orchids have tubers instead of [[pseudobulb]]s. They are extremely diverse in appearance. They produce an erect stem. The inflorescence is a cylindrical to globular spike 5 – 15&nbsp;cm long with yellow, red to purple flowers. They start flowering at the base, slowly progressing upwards, except the Monkey orchid (''Orchis simia'') that flowers in reverse order.

{{Inc|
Orchis (Greek word, referring to the shape of the tuberous roots of certain species). Orchidaceae. 
The typical genus of the great family of orchids.

Plants perennial by means of simple or palmate tubers: st. simple, erect, terminating m a raceme or spike, with few to many rather small fls., and bearing several lvs. with long sheaths: bracts often foliaceous: sepals all similar, connivent or spreading' petals often  smaller, entire; labellum 3-lobed, middle lobe entire or parted, base spurred; column very short or none; stigma plane, not produced (Habenaria).—About 70 species, all terrestrial and natives of the northern hemisphere, chiefly in Eu. and Asia, with 2 species in N. Amer. For Orchis spectabilis, Linn., see Galeorchis.

Orchises are not showy, and they have no horticultural standing, but lovers of hardy orchids collect them and try to cultivate them, usually with little success. They will probably thrive under the treatment given Galeorchis, of which F. W. Barclay writes: "The American species of Orchis are woodland plants, requiring rich leaf soil, with rather heavy shade, and that even condition of moisture characteristic of deep woods. Where these conditions cannot be supplied, the plants invariably prove short-lived." See also discussion on terrestrial orchids, page 2392.

The following species are advertised in Amer. by European dealers, but are not known to be cult, in Amer. Most of them are hardy European plants. The synonomy of the group is somewhat confused. O. Brancifortii, fls. purple.—O. foliosa, large, leafy spikes of purple fls.—O. fusca, purple- and rose-colored fls.—O. latifolia, spotted Lvs. and purple fls.—O. longicarnis, fls. rich purple. N. Afr.—O. maculata, fls. lilac-purple.—O. masscula, fls. purple, in long spikes.—O. militaris, fls. purple.—O. Morio, fla. purple and green.—O. pallens, pale sulfur-yellow.—0. papilionacea, fls. purple and white.—O. provincialis, long spikes of pale lemon- yellow fls.—O. Robertiana, fls. purple, brown and white, in large spikes.—O. sambucina, fls. yellow.—O. undulatifolia, fls. white- and rose-colored. 
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


== Species ==
List of accepted names :
* ''[[Orchis adenocheilae]]'' Czernaik. (1924) (Iran)
* ''[[Orchis anatolica]]'' Boiss. (1844) : Anatolian Orchis (Cyprus, Turkey, Southern Aegean Islands, Lebanon, Israel, Iran)
** ''Orchis anatolica'' subsp. ''anatolica'' 
** ''Orchis anatolica'' subsp. ''troodi'' (Renz) Renz (1932). 
* ''[[Orchis anthropophora]]'' (L.) All. (1785) (Western Europe to Mediterranean)
* ''[[Orchis brancifortii]]'' Biv. (1813) (Southern Italy, Sicilia, Sardinia)
* ''[[Orchis canariensis]]'' Lindl. (1835) (Canary islands)
* ''[[Orchis cazorlensis]]'' Lacaita (1930): Hunter's Orchis (Spain, Baleares)
* ''[[Orchis dinsmorei]]'' (Schlechter) H.Baumann & Dafni (Israel) (synonym of ''[[Anacamptis laxiflora]]'' <small>(Lam.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase </small>)
* ''[[Orchis fauriei]]'' Finet (1808) (Japan)
* ''[[Orchis galilaea]]'' (Bornm. & M.Schulze) Schltr. (1923) (Turkey, Lebanon, Israel)
* ''[[Orchis insularis]]'' Sommier (1895) (Italy)
* ''[[Orchis italica]]'' Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck (1798): Naked Man Orchid, Italian Orchis  (Mediterranean)
* ''[[Orchis mascula]]'' (L.) L. (1755) : [[Early Purple Orchid]], Male Orchis  (N. & C. Europe to Iran, Canary Islands)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''acutiflora'' (W.D.J.Koch) Quentin (1993)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''hispanica'' (A.Niesch. & C.Niesch.) Soó (1972) (Southern Pyrenees, Spain, Portugal, Morocco)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''longibracteatoides'' Balayer (1986) (Eastern Pyrenees)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''longicalcarata'' Akhalkatski, H. Baumann, R. Lorenz, Mosulishvili &R. Peter (2005) (Eastern and central Caucasus)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''maghrebiana''  B. Baumann & H. Baumann (2005)(Morocco)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''mascula'' (N. & C. Europe to Iran, Canary Islands)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''pinetorum'' (Boiss. & Kotschy) E.G.Camus (1908) (Macedonia to Iran)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''speciosa'' (Mutel) Hegi (1909) (Europe)
** ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''wanjkovii'' (E.Wulff) Soó in G.Keller & al. (1932) (Crimea)
* ''[[Orchis militaris]]'' L. (1753) : [[Military Orchid]] (Europe to Mongolia)
* ''[[Orchis pallens]]'' L. (1771): Pale-flowered Orchid (Europe to Caucasus)
* ''[[Orchis patens]]'' Desf. (1799) (Central Mediterranean to NW. Africa)
** ''Orchis patens'' subsp. ''nitidifolia'' W.P.Teschner (1975) (Crete)
** ''Orchis patens'' subsp. ''patens'' (Central Mediterranean to NW. Africa)
* ''[[Orchis provincialis]]'' Balb. (1806): Provence Orchis (SC. & S. Europe to Caucasus, NW Africa)
** ''Orchis provincialis'' subsp. ''pauciflora'' (Ten.) E.G.Camus (1908) (S. Europe to Crimea)
** ''Orchis provincialis'' subsp. ''provincialis'' (SC. & S. Europe to Caucasus)
** ''Orchis provincialis'' var. ''laeta'' (Steinh.) Maire & Weiller in R.C.J.Maire  (1959) (Algeria, Tunisia)
* ''[[Orchis punctulata]]'' Steven ex Lindl. (1835) : Small-dotted Orchis (SE. Europe to W. Asia)
* ''[[Orchis purpurea]]'' Huds. (1762) :  [[Lady orchid]], Purple Orchis (Europe to Caucasus, Algeria)
* ''[[Orchis quadripunctata]]'' Cirillo ex Ten. (1811): Four-spotted Orchis (Sardinia to Eastern Mediterranean)
* ''[[Orchis scopulorum]]'' Summerh. (1961) : Branching Orchis (Madeira)
* ''[[Orchis sezikiana]]'' B.Baumann & H.Baumann (1991) (Crete, Cyprus, SW Turkey)
* ''[[Orchis simia]]'' Lam. (1779) : Monkey Orchid (Europe to Iran, N. Africa)
* ''[[Orchis spitzelii]]'' Saut. ex W.D.J.Koch (1837) : Spitzel's Orchis (Sweden (Gotland), E. Spain to Caucasus, NW. Africa)
** ''Orchis spitzelii'' subsp. ''latiflora'' B. Baumann & H. Baumann (2005) (Lebanon)
** ''Orchis spitzelii'' subsp. ''teschneriana'' B. Baumann & H. Baumann (2005) (Northern Algeria)
* ''[[Orchis tridentata]]'' R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase: Three-toothed orchid (southern Europe from Spain to Turkey and the Lebanon; northwards to the Crimea, Poland and Germany)<ref name="eol">{{Cite web | last = Encyclopedia of Life | title = Neotinea tridentata (Scop.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase - Encyclopedia of Life | accessdate = 2009-09-24 | url = http://www.eol.org/pages/1137823 }}</ref><ref name="IR">{{Cite web | last = National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland | title = Orchis tridentata | work = ORCHIDS OF EUROPE WEB SITE | accessdate = 2009-09-24 | date = 2004 | url = http://www.habitas.org.uk/europeanorchids/ }}</ref>  
* ''[[Orchis wardii]]'' W.W.Sm. (1921) (S. & E. Tibet to SC. China)

=== Natural hybrids ===
* ''Orchis × angusticruris'' Franch. in V.Humnicki (1876) (''Orchis purpurea'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Europe to Caucasus)
* ''Orchis × apollinaris'' W.Rossi & al. (1992) (''Orchis italica'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Italy)
* ''Orchis × bergonii'' Nanteuil (1887) (''Orchis anthropophora'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Western Mediterranean)
* ''Orchis × beyrichii'' (Rchb.f.) A.Kern. (1865) (''Orchis militaris'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Europe to Turkey)
* ''Orchis × bivonae'' Tod. (1840)(''Orchis anthropophora'' × ''Orchis italica'')  (Southern Europe)
* ''Orchis × blidana'' B.Baumann & H.Baumann (1980) (''Orchis laeta'' × ''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''olbiensis'') (NW Africa)
* ''Orchis × calliantha'' Renz & Taubenheim 1983 (''Orchis punctulata'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Turkey)
* ''Orchis × clandestina'' Hautz. (1978) (''Orchis patens'' × ''Orchis provincialis'') (NW Italy)
* ''Orchis × colemanii'' Cortesi 1907 (''Orchis mascula'' × ''Orchis provincialis'' subsp. ''pauciflora'') (Italy)
* ''Orchis × fitzii'' Hautz. (1980 publ. 1983) (''Orchis anatolica'' × ''Orchis mascula'') (Turkey)
* ''Orchis × golestanica'' Renz (1978) (''Orchis adenocheilae'' × ''Orchis simia'') (Iran)
* ''Orchis × hybrida'' (Lindl.) Boenn. ex Rchb. (1830) (''Orchis militaris'' × ''Orchis purpure''a) (Europe)
* ''Orchis × klopfensteiniae'' P.Delforge (1985) (''Orchis pallens'' × ''Orchis spitzelii'') (SW Europe)
* ''Orchis × ligustica'' Ruppert. (1933) (''Orchis mascula'' × ''Orchis patens'') (Mediterranean)
* ''Orchis × loreziana'' Brügger (1874) (''Orchis mascula'' × ''Orchis pallens'') (Europe)
** ''Orchis × loreziana'' nothosubsp. ''kisslingii'' (Beck) Potucek (1976) (''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''speciosa'' × ''Orchis pallens'') (Eastern Europe)
** ''Orchis × loreziana'' nothosubsp. ''loreziana'' (''Orchis mascula'' × ''Orchis pallens'') (Central Europe)
* ''Orchis × macra'' Lindl. (1835) (''Orchis anthropophora'' × ''Orchis purpurea'') (Europe)
* ''Orchis × permixta'' Soó (1932) (''Orchis mascula'' subsp. ''signifera'' × ''Orchis pallens'' × ''Orchis provincialis'') (Crimea) 
* ''Orchis × petterssonii'' G.Keller ex Pett. (1947) (''Orchis mascula'' × ''Orchis spitzelii'') (Europe, NW Africa)
* ''Orchis × plessidiaca'' Renz (1928) (''Orchis pallens'' × ''Orchis provincialis'') (SE Europe to Krim)
* ''Orchis × pseudoanatolica'' H.Fleischm. (1914) (''Orchis provincialis'' subsp. ''pauciflora'' × ''Orchis quadripunctata'') (SE Europe)
** ''Orchis × pseudoanatolica'' nothosubsp. ''buelii'' (Wildh.) ined. (''Orchis provincialis'' × ''Orchis quadripunctata'') (SE Europe) 
** ''Orchis × pseudoanatolica'' nothosubsp. ''pseudoanatolica'' (''Orchis provincialis'' subsp. ''pauciflora'' × ''Orchis quadripunctata'') (SE Europe)
* ''Orchis × razzarae'' Galesi (2005) (''Orchis lactea'' Poir. × ''Orchis italica'' Poir.) (Sicilia)
* ''Orchis × sardoa'' (Scrugli & M.P.Grasso) Scrugli, A.Musacchio, D'Emerico, Pellegrino & Cozzolino (2004, publ. 2005)
* ''Orchis × spuria'' Rchb.f. (1849) (''Orchis anthropophora'' × ''Orchis militaris'') (Europe)
* ''Orchis × subpatens'' E.G.Camus in E.G.Camus & A.A.Camus (1928) (''Orchis patens'' × ''Orchis provincialis'') (S. Europe)
* ''Orchis × tingitania'' Hautz. (1976) (''Orchis provincialis'' × ''Orchis spitzelii'') (Western Mediterranean)
* ''Orchis × tochniana'' Kreutz & Scraton (2002) (''Orchis italica'' × ''Orchis punctulata'') (Cyprus)
* ''Orchis × wulffiana'' Soó  (1932) (''Orchis punctulata'' × ''Orchis purpurea'') (Crimea to caucasus)

=== Intergeneric hybrids ===
* ''Orchiophrys'' (''Ophrys'' x ''Orchis'')
* ''Orchiserapias'' (''Orchis'' x ''Serapias'')

==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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