Genus Neotinea

Neotinea lactea (Poir.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 12: 122 (1997).
Homotypic Names:
Orchis lactea Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 4: 594 (1798).
Orchis tridentata var. lactea (Poir.) Rchb.f. in H.G.L.Reichenbach, Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 13-14: 24 (1850).
Orchis tridentata subsp. lactea (Poir.) K.Richt., Pl. Eur. 1: 266 (1890).
Odontorchis lactea (Poir.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein, J. Eur. Orch. 40: 544 (2008).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Orchis acuminata Desf., Fl. Atlant. 2: 318 (1799).
Orchis corsica Viv., Fl. Cors. Prodr.: 16 (1824).
Orchis variegata var. acuminata (Desf.) Boiss., Voy. Bot. Espagne 2: 593 (1842).
Orchis tenoreana Guss., Fl. Sicul. Syn. 2: 533 (1844).
Orchis hanrici Hénon, Ann. Soc. Agr. Puy 9: 722 (1846).
Orchis hanrii Jord., Observ. Pl. Nouv. 1: 27 (1846).
Orchis tridentata var. acuminata (Desf.) Rchb.f. in H.G.L.Reichenbach, Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 13-14: 25 (1850).
Orchis tridentata var. tenoreana (Guss.) Rchb.f. in H.G.L.Reichenbach, Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 13-14: 25 (1850).
Orchis tridentata f. acuminata (Desf.) Soó, Bot. Arch. 23: 43 (1928).
Orchis tridentata f. tenoreana (Guss.) Soó, Bot. Arch. 23: 43 (1928).
Orchis lactea var. hanrici (Hénon) Maire & Weiller, Fl. Afrique N. 6: 298 (1959 publ. 1960).
Orchis tridentata var. hanrici (Hénon) Maire & Weiller, Fl. Afrique N. 6: 298 (1959 publ. 1960).
Orchis tridentata var. hanrii (Jord.) Sigunov, Glasn. Prir. Mus. Beogradu, Ser. B, Biol. Nauke 10: 22 (1977).
Neotinea corsica (Viv.) W.Foelsche, J. Eur. Orch. 34: 876 (2002).
Orchis lactea subsp. corsica (Viv.) Kreutz, Orchidee (Hamburg) 57: 103 (2006).
Neotinea lactea subsp. corsica (Viv.) Kreutz, Ber. Arbeitskreis. Heimische Orchid. 24(1): 162 (2007).
Neotinea lactea var. corsica (Viv.) P.Delforge, Naturalistes Belges 92: 203 (2011).
Orchis lactea subsp. minuscula A.Alibertis, Orchidophile (Deuil-la-Barre) 191: 286 (2011).
Neotinea lactea f. minuscula (A.Alibertis) P.Delforge, Naturalistes Belges 93: 242 (2012).
Neotinea lactea f. hanrii (Jord.) P.Delforge, Naturalistes Belges 96(Orchid. 28): 16 (2015).
Description:
The common name of this orchid refers to the colour of the flowers, which are a pale milky colour although the lip is densely marked with dark dots and streaks. Neotinea lactea is a small plant growing only to around 25cm tall. It has 3-5 erect basal leaves which are pale green and unmarked, and there are further small bract-like leaves sheathing the lower stem. The inflorescence is dense and the number of flowers is very variable. The flower sepals and petals are marked with dark green veins and form a hood above the lip. The lip is deeply lobed, usually a creamy colour and marked with dark pink spots. The central lobe is convex and bent backwards.
Etymology:
Name refers to the milky colour of its flowers.
History:
It was first described by Poiret from Algeria in 1798 and originally grouped with the Neotinea genus before then being reclassified as an Orchis.
Habitat:
Grows in open grassy places, in scrub and abandoned farmland.
Flowering times:
End of February to tbe beginning of April.
Distribution:
WC. & E. Medit.
References:
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black
Images:
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Neotinea tridentata subsp. conica (Willd.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 12: 122 (1997).
Homotypic Names:
Orchis conica Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 14 (1805).
Orchis tridentata subsp. conica (Willd.) O.Bolòs & Vigo, Fl. Man. Paísos Catalans 4: 639 (2001).
Neotinea conica (Willd.) R.M.Bateman, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 142: 12 (2003).
Orchis lactea subsp. conica (Willd.) Kreutz, Kompend. Eur. Orchid.: 124 (2004).
Orchis lactea var. conica (Willd.) H.Baumann & R.Lorenz, J. Eur. Orch. 37: 729 (2005).
Odontorchis conica (Willd.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein, J. Eur. Orch. 40: 544 (2008).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Orchis globosa Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1: 19 (1804), nom. illeg.
Orchis broteroana Rivas Goday & Bellot, Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 6(2): 189 (1946).
Orchis lactea subsp. broteroana (Rivas Goday & Bellot) Rivas Goday, Veg. Fl. Cuenca Extrem. Guadiana: 713 (1964).
Orchis pusilla D.Tyteca, Orchidophile (Deuil-la-Barre) 62: 628 (1984).
Neotinea conica var. ricardina F.M.Vázquez, J. Eur. Orch. 40: 706 (2008).
Neotinea conica var. saenzii F.M.Vázquez, J. Eur. Orch. 40: 707 (2008).
Neotinea conica f. gelpiana F.M.Vázquez, Folia Bot. Extremadur. 3: 96 (2009).
Neotinea conica f. rosea F.M.Vázquez, Folia Bot. Extremadur. 3: 96 (2009).
Description:
Terrestrial orchid with a basal rosette, of 3 to 8, unmarked, glaucose green, lanceolate leaves and 1 to 3, bract-like cauline leaves above that blooms in the late winter and spring on a dense, initially conical and short, sometimes becoming long-subglobular, many flowered inflorescence.
Habitat:
In short, poor grasslands, open garrigue and open woodlands up to 800 meters.
Distribution:
SW. France to NW. Africa
References:
Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East Delforge 2005
Images:
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Neotinea tridentata (Scop.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 12: 122 (1997).
Homotypic Names:
Orchis tridentata Scop., Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 2: 190 (1771).
Orchis tephrosanthos Vill., Prosp. Hist. Pl. Dauphiné: 16 (1779).
Odontorchis tridentata (Scop.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein, J. Eur. Orch. 40: 544 (2008).
Description:
This orchid is similar to both Neotinea lactea and Neotinea conica with which it can easily be confused. Neotinea tridentata, formerly known as Orchis tridentata, is a small but robust-looking plant which grows to around 25cm tall. It has 3-8 near-erect basal leaves with a further few (around 3) smaller leaves clasping the upper part of the stem. The inflorescence is dense and the number of flowers is variable from very few to around 30. The upper sepals and petals are white and have green veining. They form a hood above the lip of the flower. The lip is pale and covered with small red dots. It is deeply lobed and the edges are ragged or 'toothed'.
Habitat:
This orchid likes full sun or mid-shade conditions and will grow in open grassland, phrygana (garrigue) and open woodland or even in quite dense thickets.
Flowering times:
It flowers from March until the end of April.
Distribution:
C. & S. Europe to Caucasus and Jordan
References:
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black
Images:
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Neotinea maculata (Desf.) Stearn, Ann. Mus. Goulandris 2: 79 (1974 publ. 1975).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Satyrium maculatum Desf., Fl. Atlant. 2: 319 (1799).
Tinea cylindrica Biv., Giorn. Sci. Sicilia 50: 205 (1835), nom. superfl.
Tinea maculata (Desf.) Vis., Fl. Dalmat. 3: 353 (1851).
Aceras maculatum (Desf.) Gren. in J.C.M.Grenier & D.A.Godron, Fl. France 3: 282 (1855).
Orchis maculata (Desf.) Batt. & Trab., Fl. Alger: 198 (1884), nom. illeg.
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Orchis intacta Link, J. Bot. (Schrader) 2: 322 (1799).
Satyrium densiflorum Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1: 22 (1804).
Orchis atlantica Willd., Sp. Pl. 4: 42 (1805).
Orchis secundiflora Bertol., Rar. Lig. [Ital.] Pl. 2: 42 (1806).
Ophrys densiflora (Brot.) Desf., Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 10: 228 (1807).
Satyrium parviflorum Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 506 (1807), nom. illeg.
Himantoglossum parviflorum Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 694 (1826).
Himantoglossum secundiflorum (Bertol.) Rchb., Fl. Germ. Excurs.: 120 (1830).
Aceras secundiflorum (Bertol.) Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 18: t. 1525 (1832).
Peristylus atlanticus (Willd.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 300 (1835).
Peristylus densiflorus (Brot.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 298 (1835).
Satyrium atlanticum (Willd.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 300 (1835).
Ophrys secundiflora Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 768 (1840), pro syn.
Aceras densiflorum (Brot.) Boiss., Voy. Bot. Espagne 2: 595 (1842).
Orchis sagittata Munby, Fl. Algérie: 100 (1847).
Aceras intactum (Link) Rchb.f. in H.G.L.Reichenbach, Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 13-14: 2 (1850).
Peristylus maculatus Lindl. ex Rchb.f. in H.G.L.Reichenbach, Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 13-14: 2 (1850), pro syn.
Neotinea intacta (Link) Rchb.f., De Pollin. Orchid.: 29 (1852).
Coeloglossum densiflorum Hartm. ex Willk. & Lange, Prodr. Fl. Hispan. 1: 164 (1861), pro syn.
Orchis ecalcarata Costa & Vayr, Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 9: 97 (1880).
Habenaria intacta (Link) Lindl. ex Benth., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 18: 354 (1881).
Tinea intacta (Link) Boiss., Fl. Orient. 5: 58 (1882).
Aceras densiflorum f. bifidum J.A.Guim., Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 57, 248 (1887).
Aceras densiflorum f. tridentatum J.A.Guim., Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 57, 248 (1887).
Aceras vayredae K.Richt., Pl. Eur. 1: 276 (1890).
Orchis ustulata var. ecalcarata (Costa & Vayr) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur., Suppl. 2: 291 (1890).
Orchis imbecilla Sol. ex Britten, J. Bot. 42: 181 (1904).
Neotinea intacta var. bifida (J.A.Guim.) E.G.Camus, Bergon & A.Camus, Monogr. Orchid.: 244 (1908).
Neotinea intacta var. tridentata (J.A.Guim.) E.G.Camus, Bergon & A.Camus, Monogr. Orchid.: 244 (1908).
Neotinea intacta f. bifida (J.A.Guim.) Soó, Arch. Bot. (Leipzig) 23: 91 (1928).
Neotinea intacta f. tridentata (J.A.Guim.) Soó, Arch. Bot. (Leipzig) 23: 91 (1928).
Neotinea intacta f. luteola Renz, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 210 (1930).
Neotinea maculata var. stricta Landwehr, Wilde Orchid. Eur. 2: 556 (1977).
Neotinea maculata f. alba Maire & Weiller ex F.M.Vázquez, Folia Bot. Extremadur. 3: 92 (2009).
Neotinea maculata f. luteola (Renz) F.M.Vázquez, Folia Bot. Extremadur. 3: 92 (2009).
Description:
A glabrous erect herb, 25-45 cm. high; stem robust straight, clothed with 4-5 loose cucullate herbaceous sheaths; leaves 2, radical, lying appressed to the ground, nearly round, fleshy, 6-9 cm. in diameter; spike oblong usually densely many-fl., sometimes loosely few-fl., flowers spreading; bracts lanceolate membranous reflexed; side sepals narrow-elliptical, spreading-deflexed, the odd sepal narrower, all 1-1-2 cm. long; petals obliquely lanceolate obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals; lip galeate ovate with a free erect very obtuse apex, spurs filiform 1-1,2 cm as long as the ovary, or longer; column long, nearly straight rostellum rhomboidal, narrowly three-toothed m front; stigmatiferous lobe cordate-reniform emarginate, about as long as the rostellum but much wider; ovary oblong slender straight.
Note:
Flowers creamy white, or pale rose, or lilac, always with purple spots or stripes on the petals, and on the inside of the lip, and sometimes on the middle sepal. The floral characters seem pretty constant, but the vegetative are variable: sometimes it is a stout-stemmed, many flowered, handsome plant, with large loose sheaths sometimes slender, the sheaths greatly reduced, and the flowers much fewer.
Habitat:
This orchid grows in full sunshine or mid-shade and tolerates alkaline and slightly acidic soils.
Flowering times:
March and April.
Distribution:
Macaronesia, NW. Europe to Medit.
References:
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black
Images:
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