Anacamptis morio

Anacamptis morio

The green-winged orchid or green-veined orchid (Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, 1997) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Orchidaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Liliopsida,
Order Orchidales,
Orchidaceae family,
Subfamily Orchidoideae,
Tribe Orchidaeae,
Subtribe Orchidinae,
Genus Anacamptis,
Species A. morio.
The term is basionym:
– Orchis morio L..
The terms are synonyms:
– Dactylorhiza morio L.;
– Herorchis morio (L.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein;
– Orchis longicornu f. tlemecensis Batt.;
– Orchis longicornu var. tlemecensis Batt.;
– Orchis morio subsp. tlemecensis (Batt.) E.G.Camus et al.;
– Orchis morio var. albiflora Tinant;
– Orchis morio var. resupinata Corb., 1894;
– Orchis morio var. tlemecensis (Batt.) Maire & Weiller.
Within this species the following subspecies are recognised:
– Anacamptis morio subsp. morio;
– Anacamptis morio subsp. caucasica (K.Koch) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.;
– Anacamptis morio subsp. champagneuxii (Barnéoud) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.;
– Anacamptis morio subsp. longicornu (Poir.) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr.;
– Anacamptis morio subsp. picta (Loisel.) Jacquet & Scappat.;
– Anacamptis morio subsp. syriaca (E.G.Camus) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr..

Etymology –
The term Anacamptis comes from the Greek ἀνακάμτω anacámpto to fold, to bend: in reference to the long spur of the flower.
The specific morio epithet is controversial; it could come from the Greek μῶρος moros silly or from morio crazy, buffoon, fool, perhaps due to the very variable color of the orchid with this epithet. Other hypotheses refer to the Latin morion jewel or to the Italian morione, a type of helmet, due to the shape of the tepals.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Anacamptis morio is a plant that is found almost throughout Europe and in the countries of the Mediterranean basin and is native to western Eurasia, from Europe to Iran. In the British Isles, it is found in south-central England, Wales and Ireland, and is also present in southern Norway.
In Italy it is present on almost all the territory, with the exception of Sardinia.
Its habitat is that of meadows especially on soils rich in limestone. This species thrives where grass is cut once or twice a year after flowering is complete, or where it is grazed after flowering is complete. Trimming or mowing should not occur immediately after flowering but allow time for seed dispersal.
It can also be found in coastal grasslands, quarries, graveyards, as well as roadsides and meadows. In the European continent it is also found in alpine pastures and in xerothermic grasslands on porphyry outcrops. The plants are generally found from 100 to 1400 m and can reach 1900 m.

Description –
Anacamptis morio is a herbaceous plant 10-35 cm tall, with a cylindrical green stem, purplish towards the top.
The root system is composed of two rounded rhizotubers.
The leaves are elliptical to lanceolate in shape; the basal ones are in the form of a patent rosette, linear-lanceolate, acute, of a glaucous green color without spots and with delicate veins, 6÷12 cm long, the upper ones sheathing and progressively smaller.
The flowers, up to 25, vary in color from pink to purple even if albino forms are not rare; the flowers are grouped in oblong, more or less dense inflorescences. The sepals are ovate-oblong in shape, the petals a little narrower. The labellum is slightly trilobed, with the median labellum larger than the lateral ones, it has crenulated margins; the central part is generally lighter and has a purplish punctuation. The spur is cylindrical, horizontal or ascending, shorter than the ovary. The gynostemium has a short beak, with purple anther lodges and greenish pollen masses.
The flowers have an intense but not particularly pleasant scent but the forms with lighter colored flowers have a more pleasant scent.
The anthesis is from March to June, furthermore the flowers lack nectar but deceive the pollinators by imitating the appearance of various nectariferous species.
Among its most important pollinators we can certainly mention the Pierid lepidoptera: Pieris brassicae, P. napi and P. rapae and the Sphingids Macroglossum stellatarum and Hemaris fuciformis. Among the Diptera Sirfidi: the Episyrphus balteatus and the Rhingia campestris. Among the Andrenid Hymenoptera the very efficient Andrena flavipes or, among the Apidis, the Bombus pratorum, the B. terrestris and the B. hortorum, including the Apis mellifera.

Cultivation –
Anacamptis morio is a plant of the most varied environments, such as arid meadows, pastures, bushes and wooded clearings, however with extreme ecological tolerance, especially if in full light, but on any type of terrain.
Generally it can be a dark purple color, or any kind of red, up to a nice pale pink or even albino. The albino forms seem to be due to an excessive action of the mycorrhiza, the symbiotic fungus of many orchids, which would deprive, in the exchange, too many energetic substances from the seed.
The plant prefers a sunny location and good, deep, rich soil.
Its symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows it to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. It is very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides as these can damage the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid.
This symbiotic relationship makes it very difficult to cultivate. Furthermore, transplanting may damage the relationship and the plants may even thrive for a few years and then disappear, suggesting they may be short-lived perennials.
Propagation can be by seed. This must be sown on the surface, preferably as soon as it is ripe. The seed of this species is extremely simple, featuring a tiny embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very few food reserves and depends on a symbiotic relationship with a species of fungus that lives in the soil. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins digesting the fungal tissue and this serves as a food store for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from the decaying material in the soil.
For plant propagation it is best to use some of the soil growing around the adult plants to introduce the fungus, or sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow until they are large enough to move around. .
Mycorrhizal fungi known to grow in association with the green-winged orchid include Epulorhiza repens (Tulasnellaceae) and Moniliopsis solani (Ceratobasidiaceae).
It can also be propagated by dividing the tubers when the flowers fade.
This species produces a new tuber towards the end of its growing season. If this is removed from the plant while its flowers are fading, the shock to the plant can stimulate new tuber formation. The tuber should be treated as dormant, while the remaining plant should be encouraged to continue growing to give it time to produce new tubers.
Division can also be done when the plant has a fully developed rosette of leaves but before flowering. The new vegetation is removed from the old tuber from which it arose and is potted; the cut is 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 seedlings, while the new rosette should continue to grow and flower normally.

Customs and Traditions –
Anacamptis morio was described by Linnaeus as Orchis morio but in 2003 was assigned to the genus Anacamptis based on chromosomal studies.
It is commonly known as Morio Orchid, Minor Orchid, Caprino Lily, Cuckoo Pan, Clown Orchid, Salep (Italian); Orchis bouffon (French); Green-Winged Orchid (English); Kleines knabenkraut (German); Amor de dama (Castilian); Nevadna kukavica (Croatian).
This plant is among the most widespread orchids in Italy, so much so that it is named in various ways, depending on the region, and is part of a group of species used to obtain from the tubers a sort of flour called Salep, energetic and very substantial. rich in proteins, sugars and mucilage. Salep is a starch-like substance with a sweetish taste and a faint, somewhat unpleasant odor.
Among the edible uses, the root is also eaten cooked.
In the medicinal field, the root has been used as a food of particular value for children and convalescents, being boiled with water and flavoured.
It is rich in mucilage, forms a soothing and demulcent jelly which is used in the treatment of irritations of the gastro-intestinal tract.
One part of salep to fifty parts of water is enough to make a jelly.
The tuber, from which the salep is prepared, should be harvested when the plant dies after flowering and seed laying.
However, since the collection of orchids is strictly prohibited, this data must remain only a curious and interesting piece of information.
From an ecological point of view, in fact, the conservation status of this species is considered vulnerable and almost threatened.
It is a protected plant in various countries.

Method of Preparation –
The flour from Anacamptis morio tubers is known as Salep; this is very nourishing and emollient. It was once used in special diets for convalescents and children. It is very rich in mucilage and forms a smooth, demulcent gel which is used for irritated gastrointestinal tracts. One part flour to fifty parts water is enough to form gelatin. The tuber to prepare the flour should be harvested when the plant is just dry after flowering and when the seeds have been released.
However, as mentioned, due to the ecological delicacy of this plant, any collection must be avoided.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/264978472/original.jpeg

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.