Spring Handelwurz
| Spring Handelwurz | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Gymnadenia vernalis | ||||||||||||
| Dworschak |
The Spring Händelwurz ( Gymnadenia vernal ) belongs to the genus gymnadenia ( Gymnadenia ) of the family of orchids (Orchidaceae).
description
This small, graceful plant can be found from the middle of May in often slightly acidic fens. The leaves are very narrow and the stem very thin. The inflorescence is hardly noticeable due to its small flowers. It is the first to flower, but only for a very short time and then it is almost impossible to find it. Companion plants are z. B. the green hollow tongue ( Coeloglossum viride ), flesh-colored orchid ( Dactylorhiza incarnata ), broad-leaved orchid ( Dactylorhiza majalis ), large two -leaved ( Listera ovata ), wood louse herb ( Pedicularis sylvatica ), common finial ( Polygala vulgaris ). Flowering time is May to July.
The plants reach a height of 16 cm to 26 cm. This orchid is characterized by a stem just 1.5 mm to 1.9 mm thick below the inflorescence. At the bottom, the stem diameter is up to 3.5 mm. The inflorescence is loose and has few flowers. The inflorescence is 1.7 cm to 1.9 cm in diameter and up to 5.5 cm in height.
The color of the flowers is mostly light pink, they have a very faint floral vanilla scent.
The lips have a width of 3.5 mm to 5.5 mm. The diameter of the spur is 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm, its length 13 mm to 17 mm.
These plants have a small, pointed, sheathed basal leaf on the ground, followed by 2 to 4 large, narrow leaves, then up to max. 3 small bracts. The first large leaf on the ground is 6 mm to a maximum of 9 mm wide and 12 mm to 76 mm long.
distribution
So far, all 28 sites in Upper Bavaria are at an altitude between 550 m and 800 m. Holotype Südbayern, Huglfing, at a height of 610 m, May 24, 2001, Botanical State Collection Munich, leg. W. Dworschak
Demarcation
This Händelwurz can hardly be confused because of its early flowering date and its slender growth. In addition, mostly only the mosquito-handelwort ( Gymnadenia conopsea ) and much later G. splendida subsp. to find odorata . Occasional hybrids between Gymnadenia vernalis and G. conopsea are present, but rarely found. The habit of this hybrid plant resembles a G. vernalis that has grown too large .
etymology
The epithet vernalis (Latin: spring ...) was chosen because of the plant's appearance in the middle of spring.