Orchis coriophora
L.
Orchidaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Bug Orchis
General Information
Orchis coriophora is a Bulb up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
,
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.
Range
C. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry or damp pastures and marshes in hills and mountains[
42- Title
- Hardy Bulbs.
- 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.
]. Usually found on acid soils[
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.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Bulb |
Height | 0.30 m |
Pollinators | Flies, Beetles |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Easily grown in full sun in a moist sandy loam[
42- Title
- Hardy Bulbs.
- 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.
].
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.
].
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.
].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
233- Title
- Perennial Garden Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0 460 86048 8
- Description
- A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
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.
].
The flowers have an abominable bug-like smell[
42- Title
- Hardy Bulbs.
- 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.
,
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 flowers of the commoner sub-species, O. coriophora fragrans, however, are sweetly scented[
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.
].
Edible Uses
Root - cooked. 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.
].
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