Himantoglossum hircinura, (L.) Sprengel, 1826

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 342

1. H. hircinura (L.) Sprengel ,

Syst. Veg. 3: 694 (1826) (Loroglossum hircinum (L.) L. C. M. Richard, Orchis hircina (L.) Crantz).

Stem 20-90 cm, stout, glabrous, with indistinct purplish blotches. Lower leaves 4-6, 5-15x3-5 cm, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, the upper smaller, acute, amplexicaul. Spike 10-30(-50) cm, cylindrical, rather lax. Flowers large, with a strong odour. Perianth-segments 7-10 mm, subequal, pale green, with purplish spots and streaks, the outer ovate, obtuse, the inner linear. Labellum 30-50 mm, whitish, with purple spots and papillose towards base, darker green and smooth distally; lateral lobes linear, acute, curled, often purplish; middle lobe c. 2 mm wide, lorate, somewhat undulate; spur obtuse, slightly curved down­ wards. 2n=?24, 36.

Grassland, scrub and open woods; usually calcicole.

S., S. C. & W. Europe, northwards to C. England and the Netherlands. Au Be Br Bu?Co Cr Cz Ga Ge Gr He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Rm Rs (K)?Sa Si Tu.

1 Middle lobe of labellum deeply divided into 2 apical lobules c. 15 mm; galea ovoid (c) subsp. caprinum

1 Middle lobe of labellum shallowly emarginate or 2- to 4- dentate; galea subglobose

2 Lateral lobes of labellum 5-10 mm; spur c. 4 mm, conical (a) subsp. hircinum

2 Lateral lobes of labellum 12-20 mm; spur 7-12 mm, sub- cylindrical (b) subsp. calcaratum