O. laxiflora
         O. morio picta

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Loading image. Please wait Lax-flowered Orchid (O. laxiflora) :: Horton, Pelion, Greece :: 2005/05/02 :: © A.Papadopoulos Lax-flowered Orchid (O. laxiflora) :: Horton, Pelion, Greece :: 2005/05/02 :: © A.Papadopoulos Lax-flowered Orchid (O. laxiflora) :: Horton, Pelion, Greece :: 2005/05/02 :: © A.Papadopoulos Lax-flowered Orchid (O. laxiflora) :: Horton, Pelion, Greece :: 2005/05/02 :: © A.Papadopoulos Lax-flowered Orchid (O. laxiflora) :: Horton, Pelion, Greece :: 2005/05/02 :: © A.Papadopoulos

Lax-flowered or Jersey Orchid

Orchis laxiflora

This is probably the commonest orchid in Horton, Pelion, growing in abundance in the vicinity of the stream. It is a medium to tall, rather slender  perennial, with an erect or  flexuous stem and 3-8 leaves scattered along the stem. Leaves are linear to  lanceolate, pointed, 3-5 veined, often flushed with pink or purple.

Flowers, which are borne in long, lax spikes, are purple and, occasionally, white. Lateral sepals spread outwards, the upper sepal and the petals forming a loose helmet. Flowers, which measure approximately 7-10mm (1/4 - 2/5 in) in length and sport a whitish, generally unspotted central zone, are  hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects.

The plant is quite hardy and is not frost tender. It is in flower from about March to June. It prefers marshy ground, damp meadows, streamsides and damp sandy habitats. It cannot grow in the shade.

According to the "Plants for a Future" Web site, the plant's root can be eaten cooked. It is a source of "salep", a fine white to yellowish-white powder that is obtained by drying and grinding the tuber. Salep is a starch-like substance with a sweetish taste and a faint somewhat unpleasant smell. 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. One ounce of salep is said to be enough to sustain a person for a day.

The same source, although quick to admit that it doesn't have an expert knowledge on the medicinal uses of plants and can, therefore, take no responsibility for any adverse effects from the use thereof, states that this plant is used in the treatment of cancer. It also states that salep is a very nutritive  astringent,  expectorant and  demulcent. It has been used as a diet of special value for children and convalescents. Rich in mucilage, it forms a soothing and demulcent jelly that is used in the treatment of irritations of the gastro-intestinal canal. One part of salep to fifty parts of water is sufficient to make a jelly. The tuber, from which salep is prepared, should be harvested as the plant dies down after flowering and setting seed.

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Fact Sheet

Type of plant
Medium to tall, slender perennial.

Flowering Season
March - early June.

Known Hazards
N/A

Known Uses
Root can be eaten cooked. Tuber is the source of salep, a nutritious substance that can be made into a drink or added to cereals and used in making bread. Medicinal uses allegedly include treatment of cancer. It is also a potent expectorant and demulcent. "Plants for a Future" rate this plant 2 out of 5 for edibility and 2 out of 5 for medicinal use (min. 0, max. 5).

Habitat
Marshy ground, damp meadows, streamsides and damp sandy habitats, with plenty of sunsine.

Distribution
Throughout the Mediterranean countries, as far north as the U.K., where it only occurs on the island of Jersey, hence one of its common English names (Jersey orchid).

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Taxonomy


Kingdom: Plantae (Plants); Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants); Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants); Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants); Class: Liliopsida (Monocotyledons); Subclass: Liliidae; Order: Orchidales; Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family); Genus: Orchis; Species: laxiflora (Lax-flowered orchid)

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Acknowledgments


Information on the plant's edible and medicinal uses was obtained from "Plants for a Future".

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