Dactylorhiza Neck. ex Nevski, Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 4: 332 (1937), nom. cons.
Synonyms:
Diplorrhiza Ehrh., Beitr. Naturk. 4: 147 (1789).
Dactylorrhiza Neck., Elem. Bot. 3: 402 (1790), opus utique oppr.
Satorkis Thouars, Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 19: 316 (1809).
Coeloglossum Hartm., Handb. Skand. Fl.: 329 (1820).
Lindblomia Fr., Bot. Not. 1843: 134 (1843.
Dactylorchis (Klinge) Verm., Stud. Dactylorch.: 64 (1947).
× Dactyloglossum P.F.Hunt & Summerh., Watsonia 6: 132 (1965).
Description:
These terrestrial orchids grow in basic soils in wet meadows, bogs, heathland and in areas sparsely populated by trees. They are tuberous geophytes. In a thickened underground stem, they can store a large amount of water to survive arid conditions.The long leaves are lanceolate and, in most species, also speckled. They grow along a rather long stem which reaches a height of 70-90 cm. Leaves higher on the stem are shorter than leaves lower on the stem.The inflorescence, compared to the length of the plant, is rather short. It consists of a compact raceme with 25-50 flowers. These develop from axillary buds. The dominant colors are all shades of pink to red, sprinkled with darker speckles.
Distrubtion:
These orchids are distributed throughout the subarctic and temperate northern hemisphere : in Europe, from Scandinavia to North Africa; also on Madeira, Iceland, West Asia, North Asia, the Himalayas, North America and even in Alaska.
Notes:
The name Dactylorhiza is derived from Greek words δάκτυλος "daktylos" (finger) and ρίζα "rhiza" (root), referring to the palmately two- to five-lobed tubers of this genus. Dactylorhiza were previously classified under Orchis which has two round tubers.
Species:
| Dactylorhiza atlantica Kreutz & Vlaciha | Morocco. |
| Dactylorhiza elata (Poir.) Soó | W. Medit. |
| Dactylorhiza elata subsp. elata | SW. Spain, NW. Africa |
| Dactylorhiza foliosa (Rchb.f.) Soó, | Madeira |
| Dactylorhiza insularis (Sommier) Ó.Sánchez & Herrero | W. Medit. to WC. Italy. |
| Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó | NW. Africa, Europe to C. Siberia. |
| Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. battandieri (Raynaud) H.Baumann & Künkele | N. Algeria. |
| Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. maurusia (Emb. & Maire) Soó | Morocco (Rif). |
| Dactylorhiza romana (Sebast.) Soó | Medit. to C. Asia. |
| Dactylorhiza romana subsp. guimaraesii (E.G.Camus) H.A.Pedersen | W. Medit. |
World Checklist of Monocotyledons. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed1/20/2010
Bibliography and References:
Baumann B, Baumann H. 2005 Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Orchideenflora Nordwestafrikas. (Contributions to the knowledge of the orchid flora of northwest-Africa.) J. Eur. Orchideen 37. 915-938
