Himantoglossum

(pronounced: him-an-toh-GLOS-sum)

Classification

Orchideae subtribe Orchidinae

Overview

Terrestrial arising from paired tubers. Stems erect, leafy. Inflorescences terminal congested racemes. Flowers foetid. Sepals and petals free, forming a hood around the column. Lip three-lobed, spurred, the midlobe elongate and spirally twisted. Column short, the rostellum beak-like; pollinia 2, sessile on a common viscidium.

Etymology

From the Greek himas, meaning strap, and glossa, meaning tongue, referring to the long strap-shaped midlobe of the lip.

Distribution

A genus of two species from Europe and the Mediterranean. Himantoglossum previously included two species now separated as Barlia Parlatore.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Baumann, H. 1978. Himantoglossum adriaticum spec. nov., eine bislang übersehene riemenzunge aus dem zentralen nordlichen Mittelmeergebiet. Die Orchidee 29:165-172.

rysy, W. 1999. Bocks-Riemenzunge, Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. Die Orchidee 50(1):1-2.

Sunderman,H. 1973. Himantoglossum (Loroglossum) hircinum--caprinum--calcaratum--affine. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 19:367-374.

Weyland, H. 1987. Orchideen beobachtungen am vitosagebirge und in der Türkei. Die Orchidee 38:29-31.

Wood, J. J. 1983. Notes on Himantoglossum (Orchidaceae). Kew Bull. 38(1):75-78.
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