Anacamptis morio

Green Winged Orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Orchideae
Subtribe:	Orchidinae
Genus:	Anacamptis
Species:	A. morio
Binomial name
Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase[1]

The Green-winged Orchid or Green-veined Orchid (Anacamptis morio) is a flowering plant of the orchid family, Orchidaceae.

Green-winged Orchid (A. morio) in bloom in meadow habitat.

It is a native of western Eurasia, ranging from Europe to Iran. In the British Isles it is found in Central-southern England, Wales and Ireland. It grows in grassy meadows, especially on limestone rich soil, reaching a height of 40 cm.

It flowers from late April to June in the British Isles, and as early as February in other countries, such as France. The inflorescence is of various colours, mainly purple but ranging from white, through pink, to deep purple. From 5 to 25 helmet-shaped flowers grow in a loose, linear bunch at the top of the single stalk. The name morio is derived from the Greek word "moros" meanimng "fool". This refers to the colorful, green striped flowers. A pair of lateral sepals with prominent green, occasionally purple veins extend laterally like "wings", giving the orchid its name. The broad, three lobed, lower petal is pale in the center with dark spots. Each flower has a long spur at the back which holds nectar to attract insects to pollinate the bloom.

Leaves are lanceolate, or sometimes ovate, and grow in a rosette around the base of the plan, with some thinner leaves clasping the stem and sheathing almost up to the flowers. Leaves are green and unspotted.

It is similar in appearance to the Early Purple-Orchid, but has green stripes on the two lateral sepals, and lacks the spots or blotches of the Early Purple's leaves.

It is a protected species in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (NI) Order of 1985.^[2]

In 2001 Anacamptis morio was adopted as the logo for Priory Vale, the third and final instalment in Swindon's 'Northern Expansion' project. Due to a rapid decline in the species they are protected in certain cases, although still regarded as being quite common in the Swindon area, especially Clifford Meadow, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) off Thamesdown Drive, Swindon.

Flower

References

1. ^ R. M. Bateman, A. M. Pridgeon, M. W. Chase (1997). "Phylogenetics of subtribe Orchidinae (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae) based on nuclear its sequences. 2. Infrageneric relationships and reclassification to achieve monophyly of Orchis sensu stricto". Lindleyana 12: 113–141. 
2. ^ Orchis morio :: Flora of Northern Ireland web site