Military Orchid

Taxobox
name = "Orchis militaris"

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = Military Orchid
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
genus = "Orchis"
species = "O. militaris"
binomial = "Orchis militaris"
binomial_authority = L. 1753The Military Orchid, "Orchis militaris", is a species of orchid native to Europe.

Description

This plant grows to a height of 20 to 50cm with a robust stem with rather drawn up oblong basal leaves. The inflorescence forms a purplish dense cone consisting of from 10 to 40 flowers. In each flower the sepals and side petals are gathered together to form a pointed "helmet" (whence it gets its name), a lilac colour outside and a veined purple colour inside. The central tongue finishes in two lobes separated by a tooth.

Flowering Period

Depending on location, April to June.

Habitat

Likes full light on a dry calcareous substrate. For example unfertilized lawns, meadows, edges and light woods up to 2000m in altitude.

Distribution

It is well distributed around Europe, reaching as far north as southern Sweden, but rather rare in the Mediterranean areas.It is extremely rare in Britain and a protected species, occurring only at the Rex Graham nature reserve in Suffolk and the Buckinghamshire Chilterns.

ee also

* "Orchis caucasica"
* "Orchis galilaea"
* "Orchis italica"
* "Orchis mascula"
* "Orchis militaris"
* "Orchis punctulata"
* "Orchis purpurea"
* "Orchis simia"
* "Orchis stevenii"

External links

* [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/plants_and_algae/Orchis_militaris/more_info.html Military orchid ("Orchis militaris")]
* [http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/orchida/orchi/orchmilv.jpg"Orchis militaris" distribution ]