Himantoglossum Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 675 (1826).
Synonyms:
Loroglossum Rich., De Orchid. Eur.: 25 (1817).
Comperia K.Koch, Linnaea 22: 287 (1849).
Barlia Parl., Nuov. Gen. Sp. Monocot.: 5 (1858).
× Comptoglossum Karatzas, J. Eur. Orch. 36: 954 (2004).
Description:
The flowers of the species currently included in the genus Himantoglossum all have a very long lip mid-lobe, but this showy character does not seem sufficient to separate these species from similar ones up to now included in the genus Barlia. The common characteristics to all these orchids are the presence of a spur, a single viscidium and bursicle, and large ellipsoid tubers.
The chromosome number is 2n=36.
The flowers of Himantoglossum in the strict sense are pollinated by solitary bees of the genera Andrena and Colletes, and by honey-bees.
Distribution:
Canary Is. Europe to W. Asia, N. Africa.
Species:
| Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. | Europe, N. Africa, Iraq. |
| Himantoglossum hircinum var. hircinum. | Europe, N. Africa. |
| Himantoglossum metlesicsianum (W.P.Teschner) P.Delforge | Canary Is. (Tenerife). |
| Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P.Delforge | 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/ accessed 19 May 2020.'
Bibliography and References:
Allard M. 1999 La variete platyglossa Galle d' Aceras hircina (= Himantoglossum hircinum). Orchidophile 30. (138): 187-190 (1999)
Arditti J. 1972 Caprocic acid in Satyrium flowers: biochemical origins of a myth. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 41. (4): 298-300 (1972) Himantoglossum hircinum (not Satyrium).
Bacon L. 1972 Plant portraits: Himantoglossum hircinum. (L.) Sprengel subsp. caprinum (Bieb.) K. Richter. Quart. Bull. Alp. Gard. Soc. 40. (2): 132, 135 (1972)
Dulieu D, Schafer PA. 1973 A propos de la nomenclature des Orchidees europeennes: Himantoglossum versus Loroglossum. Orchidophile, no. 11. 199 - 201 (1973).
Roberts J. 1992 British native orchids. Orchid Rev. 100. (1186): 276-277 (1992)
Sundermann H. 1973 Himantoglossum (Loroglossum) hircinum - caprinum - calcaratum - affine. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 19. (1-4): 367-374 (1973)
Wood J, Bell S. 1994 Plant portraits: 240. Himantoglossum hircinum. Orchidaceae. Kew Mag. 11. (1): 22-28 (1994)
Wood J. 1986 Some European orchids in cultivation. Plant portrait: 52. Himantoglossum caprinum. Kew Mag., 3. (1): 28-31 (1986)
Wood J. 1983 Notes on Himantoglossum (Orchidaceae). Kew Bull., 38. (1): 75-78 (1983)
