Orchis mascula(L.) L. subsp. pinetorum (Boiss. & Kotschy) G.Camus - Early-purple Orchid
Scientific Description:
Plant 20−40 cm. Stem slender, often flexuous. Basal leaves 4−6, obovate to oblong, spreading, c. 8−12 × l.5−3 cm, shining-green, unspotted (seldom faintly marked with dark lines near base). Spike cylindrical, lax, many-flowered. Flowers mauve to red. Sepals obtuse, lateral ones spreading to reflexed. Labellum 3-lobed, convex, with few darker dots near base or undotted; middle lobe elongate, clearly exceeding the ovate lateral lobes, reniform to nearly 2-lobed. Spur slightly curved upwards, ± dilated at tip, ± equalling ovary.
Flowering time: May−June.
Habitat: Glades and edges of coniferous forest, Fagus L. forest, Quercus L. scrub, 150−2400 m.
Reference:
Renz J & Taubenheim G (1984). Orchis mascula (L.) L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 529.
Public Description:
Orchis mascula subsp. pinetorum, common name “early-purple orchid”, distributed in Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa, western and northern Asia. It is a perennial 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. It shows up to 50 flowers and colors varies from pink to violet. It is a source of 'salep', a fine white to yellowish-white powder that is obtained by drying the tuber and grinding it into a powder. Salep is a starch-like substance with a sweetish taste and a faint somewhat unpleasant smell. It is used to make salep drink and ice cream.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchis_mascula/,Accessed date: 03.03.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Orchis+mascula/,Accessed date: 03.03.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/early-purple-orchid / /,Accessed date: 03.03.2016.
Güler N (2012). Orchis L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 645−650.