Orchis

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Orchis >

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Read about Orchis in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

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. G. 13:183; 26:296; 35:465. G.M. 50:709.—O. fusca, purple- and rose-colored fls.—O. latifolia, spotted Lvs. and purple fls. G. 6:229. Gn.W. 20:599.—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. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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