Gymnadenia conopsea -- species description

Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. 1813

Subspecies: Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. alpina (Turcz. ex Rchb. f.) Janch. ex Soó
Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. borealis (Druce) F. Rose
Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. conopsea
Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. densiflora (Wahl) E.G. Camus & A. Camus

Variant(s): Gymnadenia conopsea var. latifolia Schltr.
Gymnadenia conopsea var. pyrenaica A.G. Richt.
Gymnadenia conopsea var. yunnanensis Schltr.
Forma(s): Gymnadenia conopsea fo. albiflora Moldenke 1950

Photo by Gladys Lucille Smith of a plant introduced to the United States.

Synonyms: Basionym: Orchis conopsea L.
Habenaria conopsea (L.) Benth. 1881
Gymnadenia alpina (Turcz. ex Rchb. f.) Czern. 1981

Common name(s): Fragrant Orchid

Derivation/Pronunciation: jim-na-DEEN-ee-ahcohn-OHP-see-ah
Plant: terrestrial, 15-45cm, 4-8 linear-lanceolate, keeled leaves. The underground tubers are divided into finger-like lobes.
Flowers: Pink or reddish-lilac; see illustrations. Inflorescence: densely flowered raceme has up to 200 flowers, lip is 3 lobed and has a spur.
Fragrant: Yes.
Bloomtimes: Late spring to summer.
Habitat: Calcareous grasslands and roadcuts.
Distribution: Europe, including Britain and Ireland. This species has been introduced to the United States, where it is naturalized in southern New England.
Culture:
Other Notes: The flowers have a powerful and very pleasant scent. The species has a number of distinct subspecies and varieties, which some botanists regard as distinct species.The subspecies densiflora is particularly common in Northern Ireland. It has long, dense spikes. It is found in lime-rich grasslands, such as those on the County Antrim coast.

References:

The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada Excluding Florida; Carlyle A. Luer; The New York Botanical Garden; pg. 208
Native Orchids of N. America North of Mexico; Donovan Stewart Correll; Stanford University Press 1950, 1978; pg. 116
Wild Orchids of Britian & Europe; Paul & Jenne Davies, Anthony Huxley; Hogarth Press 1988; pg. 89, 90

Last Modified: June 13, 2002 by Joseph Dougherty

All images on this site are copyrighted by the original photographer. Please be considerate and do not use these images without the photographer's prior permission. We welcome your contributions of images and cultural information. Contact me at josephd@ecology.org to contribute your images of alternate color forms, foliage variations, cultural tips, etc. We'll be happy to share them with the orchid community via this site and give you the credit, along with a link to your website if applicable.