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Useful Temperate Plants

Dactylorhiza maculata

(L.) Soó

Orchidaceae


Dactylorhiza maculata is a very variable species and is generally treated as comprising 5 subspecies plus a hybrid between the subspecies maculata and fuchsii. The two most widespread subspecies (maculata and fuchsii (which is commonly known in older literature as Dactylorhiza fuchsii)) extend over most of the range of the species, but are both absent from northern Africa; the subspecies maurusia is found in northwest Africa; subspecies saccifera is found in southern Europe and Turkey; subspecies sooana is restricted to Slovakia and the hybrid transiens is found in western Europe

+ Synonyms

× Dactylanthera chevallieriana somersete (A.Camus) J.M.H.Shaw

× Dactylanthera somersetensis (A.Camus) B.Bock

× Orchiplatanthera somersetiensis A.Camus

× Rhizanthera somersetiensis (A.Camus) Soó

Dactylorchis elodes (Griseb.) Verm.

Dactylorchis fuchsii (Druce) Verm.

Dactylorchis maculata (L.) Verm.

Dactylorchis maurusia (Emb. & Maire) Verm.

Dactylorchis saccifera (Brongn.) Verm.

Dactylorhiza × corylensis (Hesl.-Harr.) Soó

Dactylorhiza × komiensis Aver.

Dactylorhiza × transiens (Druce) Soó

Dactylorhiza × transiens corylensis (Hesl.-Harr.) P.D.Sell

Dactylorhiza andoeyana Perko

Dactylorhiza battandieri Raynaud

Dactylorhiza bithynica H.Baumann

Dactylorhiza elodes (Griseb.) Aver.

Dactylorhiza ericetorum (E.F.Linton) Aver.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó

Dactylorhiza hebridensis (Wilmott) Aver.

Dactylorhiza islandica (Á.Löve & D.Löve) Aver.

Dactylorhiza kolaensis (Montell) Aver.

Dactylorhiza longibracteata (F.W.Schmidt) Holub

Dactylorhiza longibracteata sudetica (Poech ex Rchb.f.) Holub

Dactylorhiza maurusia (Emb. & Maire) Holub

Dactylorhiza meyeri (Rchb.f.) Aver.

Dactylorhiza montellii (Verm.) P.Delforge

Dactylorhiza okellyi (Druce) Aver.

Dactylorhiza psychrophila (Schltr.) Aver.

Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó

Dactylorhiza savogiensis D.Tyteca & Gathoye

Dactylorhiza savogiensis pyrenaica (Kreutz) P.Delforge

Dactylorhiza sudetica (Poech ex Rchb.f.) Aver.

Dactylorhiza transsilvanica (Schur) Aver.

Dactylorhiza urvilleana bithynica (H.Baumann) H.Baumann & R.Lorenz

Orchis × corylensis Hesl.-Harr.

Orchis × transiens Druce

Orchis basilica L. ex Klinge

Orchis basilica maculata (L.) Klinge

Orchis basilica saccifera (Brongn.) Klinge

Orchis biermannii Ortmann

Orchis bonanniana Tod.

Orchis calvellii A.Terracc.

Orchis candidissima Krock.

Orchis comosa F.W.Schmidt

Orchis danguyana P.Fourn.

Orchis elodes Griseb.

Orchis ericetorum (E.F.Linton) A.Benn.

Orchis fuchsii Druce

Orchis hebridensis Wilmott

Orchis incarnata xauensis Pau & Font Quer

Orchis latifolia maurusia (Emb. & Maire) Maire

Orchis longibracteata F.W.Schmidt

Orchis longibracteata Schur

Orchis macedonica Griseb.

Orchis macrostachys Tineo

Orchis maculata L.

Orchis maurusia Emb. & Maire

Orchis nemorosa Montandon

Orchis nesogenes (Briq.) Rouy

Orchis obtusifolia Schur

Orchis ochrantha (Pančić) H.Fleischm.

Orchis okellyi (Druce) Druce

Orchis saccifera Brongn.

Orchis solida Moench

Orchis tetragona Heuff.

Orchis transsilvanica Schur

Common Name: Spotted Orchid

No Image.

General Information

Dactylorhiza maculata is a herbaceous perennial growing from a tuberous rootstock; the flowering stem is up to 60cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is commonly grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

Range

Throughout Europe and through northern Asia to Siberia and Mongolia; northwest Africa - Morocco, Algeria

Habitat

Grassland, meadows, marshes, dune slacks; sea level to 2,400 metres. Subsp. maculata also on sphagnum bogs, moorland, heathland, mostly on acidic soils; subsp. fuchsii also in tundra, peat bogs, open woods and woodland edges, mostly on calcareous soils

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitBulb
Height0.60 m
PollinatorsBees, Beetles
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils, but it prefers a moist loam and lots of leaf mould[
42
Title
Hardy Bulbs.; Including Half-hardy Bulbs and Tuberous and Fiberous-rooted Plants
Publication
 
Author
Grey. C. H.
Publisher
Williams & Norgate.
Year
1938
ISBN
-
Description
Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.
]. Requires a deep rich soil[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Grows well in full sun or partial shade[
42
Title
Hardy Bulbs.; Including Half-hardy Bulbs and Tuberous and Fiberous-rooted Plants
Publication
 
Author
Grey. C. H.
Publisher
Williams & Norgate.
Year
1938
ISBN
-
Description
Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.
], doing well in a woodland garden[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
].
Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
]. This symbiotic relationship makes them very difficult to cultivate, though they will sometimes appear uninvited in a garden and will then thrive. Transplanting can damage the relationship and plants might also thrive for a few years and then disappear, suggesting that they might be short-lived perennials[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
].
Dactylorhiza species reproduce mainly and sometimes solely via seed production. Vegetative reproduction of many species is very low - in Dactylorhiza virides, for instance, it is almost
non-existent. Plants reach maturity and flower in one to several years - there is generally a high seed output and this enables Dactylorhiza species to recolonize habitats from which they have disappeared and to establish populations in new habitats[
1866
Title
Medicinal Orchids of Asia
Publication
 
Author
Eng Soon Teoh
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24274-3
Publisher
Springer International Publishing Switzerland
Year
2016
ISBN
978-3-319-24272-9
Description
 
].
Cultivated plants are very susceptible to the predation of slugs and snails[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
].
Plants can succeed in a lawn in various parts of the country. The lawn should not be mown early in the year before or immediately after flowering[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plant out bulbs whilst the plant is dormant, preferably in the autumn[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Bulbs can also be transplanted with a large ball of soil around the roots when they are in leaf, they are impatient of root disturbance[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
,
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. 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[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. Salep is a starch-like substance with a sweetish taste and a faint somewhat unpleasant smell[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. It is said to be very nutritious and is made into a drink or can be added to cereals and used in making bread etc[
100
Title
Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1969
ISBN
0192176218
Description
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. One ounce of salep is said to be enough to sustain a person for a day[
100
Title
Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1969
ISBN
0192176218
Description
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
,
115
Title
The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Publication
 
Author
Johnson. C. P.
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
].

Medicinal

Salep (see above for more details) is very nutritive and demulcent[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. It has been used as a diet of special value for children and convalescents, being boiled with water, flavoured and prepared in the same way as arrowroot[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. Rich in mucilage, it forms a soothing and demulcent jelly that is used in the treatment of irritations of the gastro-intestinal canal[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. One part of salep to fifty parts of water is sufficient to make a jelly[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. The tuber, from which salep is prepared, should be harvested as the plant dies down after flowering and setting seed[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move.
Division of the tubers as the flowers fade[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
]. This species produces a new tuber towards the end of its growing season. If this is removed from the plant as its flowers are fading, the shock to the plant can stimulate new tubers to be formed. The tuber should be treated as being dormant, whilst the remaining plant should be encouraged to continue in growth in order to give it time to produce new tubers[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
].
Division can also be carried out when the plant has a fully developed rosette of leaves but before it comes into flower[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
]. The entire new growth is removed from the old tuber from which it has arisen and is potted up, the cut being made towards the bottom of the stem but leaving one or two roots still attached to the old tuber. This can often be done without digging up the plant. The old tuber should develop one or two new growths, whilst the new rosette should continue in growth and flower normally[
230
Title
Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. P. & Bailes. C.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1989
ISBN
0 7470 0416 1
Description
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-10-13. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Dactylorhiza+maculata>

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