''Himantoglossum hircinum'', the lizard orchid, is a species of
orchid in the genus ''
Himantoglossum'' found in Europe and North Africa.
Description
''Himantoglossum hircinum'' is a
perennial herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
plant, reaching a height of . It persists in the soil as a pair of ovoid/subglobose tubers, with short roots. Its leaves are 5-20cm long, with basal leaves larger than aerial leaves and the plant is glabrous. Flowers are green-white with a long twisting/coiled labellum which may be tinged with a variety of colours; white, green, purple or brown. Flowers strongly smell of male
goats.
A similar looking species called ''
Himantoglossum adriaticum
''Himantoglossum adriaticum'', the Adriatic lizard orchid, is a species of orchid native to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republ ...
'' is found in Eastern Europe.
Habitat and distribution
This orchid grows in dry meadows, rocky areas, and open woods. It tends to grow on south-facing grassy slopes, among ''
Bromus'' and ''
Brachypodium
''Brachypodium'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, widespread across much of Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America. The genus is classified in its own tribe Brachypodieae.
Flimsy upright stems form tussocks. Flowers appear in compact spi ...
'' grasses. In France it is often found on roadsides. In the United Kingdom it grows to a maximum altitude of 850m.
This species is found across Europe, from Spain eastwards to the Balkans and in western North Africa. It is usually rare but can sometimes be found in great numbers in suitable habitats. Examples of sites for this species include among sand dunes at
Sandwich Bay in the
United Kingdom,
Massif Central in
France and the Mugello Valley in
Italy.
Ecology
''Himantoglossum hircinum'' is a food-deceptive orchid species, meaning the flowers generally provide no nectar to their pollinators. The
Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland states however that some plants have been found to provide nectar to pollinators, and that it remains unclear which species are the principal pollinators of the lizard orchid, although they suggest ''
Andrena'' bees.
It has been suggested that ''H. hircinum'' is a
mycorrhizal generalist, though some have questioned this, due to the species' limited distribution, and the issue remains unresolved.
Chemistry
Orchinol
Orchinol is a 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, a type of phenanthrenoid. It can be isolated from infected ''Orchis militaris'' and infected '' Loroglossum hircinum'' with '' Rhizoctonia repens''. This molecule has a phytoalexin effect. It reduces the grow ...
,
loroglossol and
hircinol are phenanthrenoids that can be isolated from infected ''Loroglossum hircinum''.
Conservation
This is a rare species with protected status in the
United Kingdom and
Germany and possibly other countries.
Etymology
The 'lizard' in the plant's English common-name refers to the shape and colour of the flowers. The Latin genus ''
Himantoglossum'' means 'strap-tongue', after the shape of the flower labellum and the species epithet 'hircinum' means 'of goats', after the smell the flowers produce.
Orchids of Britain and Ireland: A Field and Site Guide - Genus Himantoglossum
/ref> In German the plant is known as 'Bocks Riemenzunge', which translates as 'buck's (ie. goat's) strap-tongue'. The French name 'l'orchis bouc' means 'buck (ie. goat) orchid'.
References
External links
*
*
J. Claessens, J. Kleynen: ''European orchids'' – ''Andrena sp.'' pollinator of ''Himantoglossum hircinum''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q159296
hircinum
Orchids of Europe
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus