These hardy terrestrial orchids are deciduous. They survive the winter through two deep-cut tubers. Long lanceolate greenleaves grow at the bottom of the stem. There are some small leaves at the stop of the stem.
They flower during the summer. The inflorescence is a dense cylindrical spike between 5 and 30 cm long. It can consists of up to 150 small pleasant-smelling flowers. It is recently discovered that eugenol and isoeugenol, floral volatile scent compounds, are catalyzed by single type of enzyme in Gymnadenia species and gene encoding for this enzyme is first functionally characterized gene in this species so far.[6] Their color can vary from pale purple to pink and white. The lip is wide with three lobes. The marginal petals are horizontal. There is a long, thin, threadlike spur.
Several species were formerly classified under Nigritella. The nothogeneric name ×Gymnigritella was used for hybrids between these two groups.
As of August 2023[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species and hybrids.[1] ([N] = formerly placed in Nigritella, [GN] = formerly placed in ×Gymnigritella.)
Delforge, P. 1998. Contribution taxonomique et nomenclaturale au genre Gymnadenia (Orchidaceae). Nomenclatural and taxonomical contribution to the genus Gymnadenia (Orchidaceae). Nat. Belg. 79(4): 251–256.
In Literature
Gymnadenia is the title of a novel published in 1929 in Norwegian by Nobel Prize winning author Sigrid Undset.[13] The novel was translated into English by Arthur G. Chater and published in 1931 as The Wild Orchid.[14]
Notes
References
^ ab"Gymnadenia R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
