Frog orchid

''Coeloglossum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It has long been considered to have only one species, ''Coeloglossum viride'', the frog orchid. Some recent classifications regard ''Coeloglossum'' as part of the larger genus, ''Dactylorhiza'', so that ''C. viride'' becomes ''Dactylorhiza viridis''. Other sources continue to keep ''Coeloglossum viride'' separate.

Under either name, the species has a wide distribution across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere, covering much of Europe, non-tropical Asia (Russia, Japan, China, the Himalayas, etc.), much of Canada and parts of the United States (Alaska, Northeast, the Appalachians, Great Lakes Region, Northern Great Plains, and Rocky Mountains). It is typically found growing in moist, rich soil in wet meadows, moist or wet deciduous woods and thickets, and is frequently found on steep slopes.

Etymology

The generic name ''Coeloglossum'' is derived from the Greek ' meaning "hollow tongue", referring to the hollow spur on the tongue-like labellum.
The 'frog' in frog orchid refers to the shape and colour of the flowers.

Description

Plant arises from fleshy, forked roots and ranges in height from 10 to 55 cm. The leaves of ''C. viride'' are 5–14 cm long and 2–7 cm wide; leaves at the base of the orchid are obovate to elliptical, while leaves higher on the stem become lanceolate. Two to six leaves are found on one plant, and leafing is alternate.

Inflorescence of the orchid is a dense raceme (spike-like cluster) containing 7 to 70 small flowers. Flowers are greenish in color, and often tinged with purple, reddish, or red-brown color. Flowers are subtended by conspicuous long, tapering bracts which are 1–6 cm long, with the lower bracts longer and typically greatly exceeding the length of the flower. Sepals are oval with little or no point, 3–7 mm long and 2–4 mm wide and dark green. Sepals join with petals to form a hood opposite the lower petal of the flower. Petals are long and narrow, 3.5–5 mm long and about 0.5 mm wide, and curve inwards. The lower petal is strap-shaped and usually split at the very tip to form two or three tooth-like divisions, with the middle tooth smaller than the others. It is 5–11 mm long and 1–4 mm wide. A 2–3 mm long nectar spur projects behind the labellum.

''Coeloglossum viride'' flowers in late May and early June. It is either pollinated by bees and small wasps, or reproduces autogamously by incoherent pollinia; that is, the pollinia crumble and some pollen falls on the stigma, fertilizing the flower.

In North America, ''Coeloglossum viride'' can be mistaken for ''Platanthera flava'' (the pale green orchid), but can be best distinguished by the labellum, which is notched at the apex and does not have the tubercle of ''P. flava''.

Ecology

''Coeloglossum viride'' is mainly pollinated by beetles and a wide range of Hymenoptera including ants.

This orchid species is able to form symbiotic partnerships with a variety of mycorrhizal fungi including ''Ceratobasidium sp.'', ''Epulorhiza anaticulata'' ''Moniliopsis anomala'', ''Rhizoctonia sp.'', ''Tulasnella cucumeris'' and ''Tulasnella calospora''.

Uses

''Coeloglossum viride'' var. ''bracteatum'' is being investigated as a potential candidate for the treatment of vascular dementia.

Chemistry

The chemistry of ''Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum'' is complex, featuring a wealth of bioactive constituents, at least seven of which are new to science and peculiar to the plant. Known compounds found thus far to be present are 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (=Gastrodigenin), 4,4'-dihydroxydibenzyl ether, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane (see Xenoestrogen), 4-(4-hydroxybenzyloxy)benzyl alcohol, gastrodin, quercetin-3,7-diglucoside (see Flavonol glycoside), thymidine, loroglossin, militarine, dactylorhin A, dactylorhin B, β-Sitosterol and daucosterol.

References

External links

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Den virtuella floran - DistributionActa Plantarum

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Orchids of Asia
Orchids of Europe
Orchids of North America
Monotypic Orchidoideae genera
Orchidoideae