Anacamptis pyramidalis, the pyramidal orchid,[1] is a perennialherbaceous plant belonging to the genus Anacamptis of the family Orchidaceae. The scientific name Anacamptis derives from Greek ανακάμτειν 'anakamptein' meaning 'bend forward', while the Latin name pyramidalis refers to the pyramidal form of the inflorescence.
This hardy plant reaches on average 10–25 centimetres (3.9–9.8 in) of height, with a maximum of 60 centimetres (24 in). The stem is erect and unbranched. The basal leaves are linear-lanceolate with parallel venation, up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long, the cauline ones are shorter and barely visible on the stem. The arrangement of hermaphroditic flowers in a compact pyramidal shape is very distinctive and gives the orchid its common name. The colour of the flower varies from pink to purple, or rarely white, and the scent is described as "foxy". The flowers have six tepals, being three small sepals and three petals. Two small petals are on the sides, while the third and lower (labellum) is large and trilobate. At the back of the flower there is a tubular spur of about 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long, while the labellum bears two lateral small flaps. The flowering period extends from April through July.
Habitat and distribution
Anacamptis pyramidalis requires a sunny spot on diverse soils: loamy or clay. It can even grow on very alkaline soil. It can be found on meadows, in grassland, sand dunes, maquis as well as dry and well exposed slopes, at an altitude of 0–1,600 metres or more (0–5,250 ft approx.) above sea level.[2][3]
In the UK, Anacamptis pyramidalis is one of the most successful orchid species on roadside verges, and colonises other disturbed habitats like airfields, quarries and reservoirs.[4]
This orchid is native to southwestern Eurasia, from western Europe through the Mediterranean region eastwards to Iran. In Germany, it is rare and was declared Orchid of the Year in 1990 to heighten awareness of this plant. This orchid is especially common on the Isle of Wight in the South of England, and was designated the county plant in 2008. On the Isle of Wight, it favours growth in chalky or sandstone-rich soil,[5] and thus can easily be found on the Downland and cliffs to the west and south of the island.[6][7]
Close-up on inflorescence of Anacamptis pyramidalis
Close-up on a flower of Anacamptis pyramidalis
Leaf of Anacamptis pyramidalis
Varieties
There are some notable varieties, which are sometimes treated as subspecies – and as they seem to be limited to certain regions, this may be correct:[citation needed]
Anacamptis pyramidalis var. tanayensis (Chenevard) Soó in Keller – Tanay Pyramidal Orchid - Flowers darker and smaller. Fribourg and Valais cantons (Switzerland).
Anacamptis pyramidalis var. urvilleana (Sommier & Caruana Gatto) Schlechter – Maltese Pyramidal Orchid, an endemic orchid from Malta with smaller and paler flowers flowering 4–6 weeks before Anacamptis pyramidalis.[11]
The variety alba can be found anywhere in the Pyramidal Orchid's range; its flowers are white.
Medicinal uses
The dried and ground tuber (from various species of Orchis and Anacamptis) can be made into a fine white powder, called salep. This is a very nutritious sweet starchlike substance. It is used in drinks, cereals and in making bread. In Turkey it is used in ice-creams.[12] It was also used medicinally in diets for children and convalescents.
^Applied ecology and environmental research - In Vitro Symbiotic Germination Potentials of Some Anacamptis, Dactylorhiza, Orchis and Ophrys Terrestrial Orchid Species
^Turkish Journal of Botany - Diversity of endophytic fungi from various Aegean and Mediterranean orchids (saleps)
^Mifsud, Stephen (2016). "Taxonomic notes on Anacamptis pyramidalis var. urvilleana (Orchidaceae), a good endemic orchid from Malta". Journal Europäischer Orchideen. 48 (1): 19–28.
^Eng Soon Teoh Orchids as Aphrodisiac, Medicine or Food (2019), p. 46, at Google Books
^Plantlife website County Flowers page 2015-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
Darwin, Charles (1862), On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing, London: John Murray, retrieved 2009-07-30
External links
Media related to Anacamptis pyramidalis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) at Wikispecies
Comprehensive profile for Anacamptis pyramidalis from the website MaltaWildPlants.com
Biolib
May 04, 2023
anacamptis, pyramidalis, pyramidal, orchid, perennial, herbaceous, plant, belonging, genus, anacamptis, family, orchidaceae, scientific, name, anacamptis, derives, from, greek, ανακάμτειν, anakamptein, meaning, bend, forward, while, latin, name, pyramidalis, r. Anacamptis pyramidalis the pyramidal orchid 1 is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Anacamptis of the family Orchidaceae The scientific name Anacamptis derives from Greek anakamtein anakamptein meaning bend forward while the Latin name pyramidalis refers to the pyramidal form of the inflorescence Anacamptis pyramidalisConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsOrder AsparagalesFamily OrchidaceaeSubfamily OrchidoideaeGenus AnacamptisSpecies A pyramidalisBinomial nameAnacamptis pyramidalis L Rich SynonymsAnacamptis condensata Koch Orchis appendiculata Stokes Orchis bicornis Gilib Orchis condensata Desf Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat and distribution 3 Ecology 4 Gallery 5 Varieties 6 Medicinal uses 7 Culture 8 References 9 External linksDescription Edit Charles Darwin s book Fertilisation of Orchids included an illustration of the head of a moth with its proboscis laden with several pairs of pollinia from Orchis pyramidalis This hardy plant reaches on average 10 25 centimetres 3 9 9 8 in of height with a maximum of 60 centimetres 24 in The stem is erect and unbranched The basal leaves are linear lanceolate with parallel venation up to 25 centimetres 9 8 in long the cauline ones are shorter and barely visible on the stem The arrangement of hermaphroditic flowers in a compact pyramidal shape is very distinctive and gives the orchid its common name The colour of the flower varies from pink to purple or rarely white and the scent is described as foxy The flowers have six tepals being three small sepals and three petals Two small petals are on the sides while the third and lower labellum is large and trilobate At the back of the flower there is a tubular spur of about 1 5 centimetres 0 59 in long while the labellum bears two lateral small flaps The flowering period extends from April through July Habitat and distribution EditAnacamptis pyramidalis requires a sunny spot on diverse soils loamy or clay It can even grow on very alkaline soil It can be found on meadows in grassland sand dunes maquis as well as dry and well exposed slopes at an altitude of 0 1 600 metres or more 0 5 250 ft approx above sea level 2 3 In the UK Anacamptis pyramidalis is one of the most successful orchid species on roadside verges and colonises other disturbed habitats like airfields quarries and reservoirs 4 This orchid is native to southwestern Eurasia from western Europe through the Mediterranean region eastwards to Iran In Germany it is rare and was declared Orchid of the Year in 1990 to heighten awareness of this plant This orchid is especially common on the Isle of Wight in the South of England and was designated the county plant in 2008 On the Isle of Wight it favours growth in chalky or sandstone rich soil 5 and thus can easily be found on the Downland and cliffs to the west and south of the island 6 7 Ecology EditThe flowers are pollinated by butterflies and moths To ensure the fertilization their morphology is well adapted to the proboscis of Lepidoptera especially Euphydryas Melanargia Melitaea Pieris and Zygaena species The mechanism by which its pairs of pollinia attach themselves to an insect s proboscis was discovered by Charles Darwin and described in his book on the Fertilisation of Orchids 8 Anacamptis pyramidalis has been suggested to form mycorrhizal relationships with Rhizoctonia Fusarium and Papulaspora species 9 10 Gallery Edit Inflorescences of Anacamptis pyramidalis Plants of Anacamptis pyramidalis Inflorescences of Anacamptis pyramidalis Close up on inflorescence of Anacamptis pyramidalis Close up on a flower of Anacamptis pyramidalis Leaf of Anacamptis pyramidalisVarieties EditThere are some notable varieties which are sometimes treated as subspecies and as they seem to be limited to certain regions this may be correct citation needed Anacamptis pyramidalis var tanayensis Chenevard Soo in Keller Tanay Pyramidal Orchid Flowers darker and smaller Fribourg and Valais cantons Switzerland Anacamptis pyramidalis var urvilleana Sommier amp Caruana Gatto Schlechter Maltese Pyramidal Orchid an endemic orchid from Malta with smaller and paler flowers flowering 4 6 weeks before Anacamptis pyramidalis 11 Anacamptis pyramidalis var sanguinea Druce Kreutz Western Irish Pyramidal Orchid Inflorescence rounder plant smaller overall County Galway to County Kerry Ireland The variety alba can be found anywhere in the Pyramidal Orchid s range its flowers are white Medicinal uses EditThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Anacamptis pyramidalis news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The dried and ground tuber from various species of Orchis and Anacamptis can be made into a fine white powder called salep This is a very nutritious sweet starchlike substance It is used in drinks cereals and in making bread In Turkey it is used in ice creams 12 It was also used medicinally in diets for children and convalescents Culture EditThe pyramidal orchid was voted the County flower of the Isle of Wight in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife 13 References Edit BSBI List 2007 xls Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Archived from the original xls on 2015 06 26 Retrieved 2014 10 17 Pakistan Journal of Botany Studies on the morphology anatomy and ecology of Anacamptis pyramidalis L in Turkey Plants for a Future Anacamptis pyramidalis Plant Life Pyramidal Orchid Pyramidal orchid Plantlife Retrieved 17 June 2020 Isle of Wight Downs IPA Plantlife Retrieved 26 June 2020 Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan PDF iow gov uk December 2007 Retrieved 26 June 2020 Darwin 1862 pp 20 24 37 Applied ecology and environmental research In Vitro Symbiotic Germination Potentials of Some Anacamptis Dactylorhiza Orchis and Ophrys Terrestrial Orchid Species Turkish Journal of Botany Diversity of endophytic fungi from various Aegean and Mediterranean orchids saleps Mifsud Stephen 2016 Taxonomic notes on Anacamptis pyramidalis var urvilleana Orchidaceae a good endemic orchid from Malta Journal Europaischer Orchideen 48 1 19 28 Eng Soon Teoh Orchids as Aphrodisiac Medicine or Food 2019 p 46 at Google Books Plantlife website County Flowers page Archived 2015 04 30 at the Wayback Machine Darwin Charles 1862 On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects and on the good effects of intercrossing London John Murray retrieved 2009 07 30External links Edit Media related to Anacamptis pyramidalis at Wikimedia Commons Data related to pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis at Wikispecies Anacamptis pyramidalis at the Encyclopedia of Life Den virtuella floran Distribution Comprehensive profile for Anacamptis pyramidalis from the website MaltaWildPlants com Biolib Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anacamptis pyramidalis amp oldid 1149219870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
