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Orchis mascula
It is a herbaceous plant with stems up to 50 - 60 cm of height, green at the base and purple on the apex. The root system consists of two tubers, rounded or ellipsoid. The leaves, grouped at the base of the stem, are oblong-lanceolate, pale green, sometimes with brownish-purple speckles. The inflorescence is 7.5–12.5 cm long and it is composed of 6 - 20 flowers gathered in dense cylindrical spikes. The flower size is about 2.5 cm and the color varies from pink to violet. The lateral sepals are ovate-lanceolate and erect, the median one, together with the petals, is smaller and cover the gynostegium. The labellum is three-lobed and convex, with crenulated margins and the basal part clearer and dotted with purple-brown spots. The spur is cylindrical or clavate, horizontal or ascending. The gynostegium is short, with reddish-green anthers. It blooms from April to June.
The specific name is derived from the Latin masculus, meaning "male" or "virile" and it should refer to the robust aspect of this species or to the shape of the tubers, similar to a pair of testicles.
Spotted on Apr 28, 2013
Submitted on Apr 28, 2013
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