SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ANACAMPTIS LAXIFLORA
Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE
Common Names:- Jersey orchid, Loose-flowered orchid.
Homotypic Synonyms:- Herorchis laxiflora, Orchis laxiflora,
Orchis palustris subsp. laxiflora, Paludorchis laxiflora.
Meaning:- Anacamptis (Gr) Bent-back, reference to the long spur of the flower.
Laxiflora (L) Loosely flowered, wide-flowered.
General description:- Medium to tall, rather slender perennial.
Stem:-
1) 30-60 cm, erect or slightly flexuous, with 3-8 patent leaves.
Leaves:-
1) Lower and middle, usually 4 or 5, not forming a rosette, long, linear-lanceolate,
unspotted.
2) Upper 1 or 2 leaves sheathing, with a short blade.
Flowers:-
1) In long, lax spikes, purple, occasionally white, those at the base of the spike
opening first.
2) Bracts, lanceolate, 3-5-veined, often flushed with pink or purple.
3) Sepals;
a) lateral, spreading outwards and upwards, longer than the petals.
b) upper, and petals, forming a loose helmet.
4) Labellum, almost rounded, 7-10mm long, with a whitish, generally unspotted,
central zone, 3-lobed;
a) middle, shorter than the lateral
b) outer, folded backwards.
5) Spur, cylindrical, horizontal to upturned, broadened at the tip to bilobed, 10-
12mm long, shorter than the ovary.
Key features:-
1) Labellum, distinctly 3-lobed.
2) Middle lobe of labellum, usually shorter than the lateral.
3) Spur, widened at the apex.
4) Flowers at the base of the spike opening first.
Habitat:- Wet meadows and marshy habitats by lakes and streams. 0-800(-1200)
m.
Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - S Europe extending to NW France, N Anatolia
and Crimea. Somewhat scattered across Crete.
Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to early June.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
