Anacamptis laxiflora, Lam., 1779

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 341-342

23. O. laxiflora Lam. ,

Fl. Fr. 3: 504 (1779).

Tubers subglobose or ellipsoid, subsessile or shortly stipitate. Stem 30-80 cm, erect or slightly flexuous, with 3-8 patent leaves. Leaves linear or lanceolate. Spike ovoid or cylindrical, lax. Bracts lanceolate, 3- to 7-veined, shorter to longer than ovary. Flowers purple. Outer perianth-segments 7-10 mm, oblong, obtuse, the 2 lateral deflexed, the median more or less erect; inner shorter, obliquely oblong. Labellum 6-12 x 8-12 mm, suborbicular, obovate or triangular-obovate, cuneate at the base; lateral lobes oblong or oblong-orbicular, deflexed after anthesis; middle lobe entire to shallowly 2-lobed. Spur cylindrical.

W., C. & S. Europe, extending northwards to Gotland and eastwards to S. Russia. Al Au Be B 1 Bu Co Cr Cz Ga Ge Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (C, W, E) Sa Si Su Tu.

1 Labellum subentire or indistinctly 3-lobed; leaves 1 -5-2-5 cm wide (c) subsp. elegans

1 Labellum distinctly 3-lobed; leaves usually 1 -2 cm wide

2 Middle lobe of labellum usually shorter than the lateral; spur widened at apex (a) subsp. laxiflora

2 Middle lobe of labellum as long as or longer than the lateral; spur usually narrowed at apex or of uniform width (b) subsp. palustris