View source for Himantoglossum hircinum

{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Redirect|Lizard orchid}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Himantoglossum hircinum LC0347.jpg
| genus = Himantoglossum
| species = hircinum
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel|Spreng.]]
| synonyms =
* ''Satyrium hircinum'' <small>L.</small>
* ''Orchis hircina'' <small>(L.) Crantz</small>
* ''Loroglossum hircinum'' <small>(L.) Rich.</small>
* ''Aceras hircinum'' <small>(L.) Lindl.</small>
}}
'''''Himantoglossum hircinum''''', the '''lizard orchid''', is a species of [[orchid]] in the genus ''[[Himantoglossum]]'' found in Europe and North Africa.
== Description ==
[[Image:Pale individual of Himantoglossum hircinum in Germany in 2008.jpg|thumb|Pale flowered specimen]]
''Himantoglossum hircinum'' is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] plant, reaching a height of {{Convert|115|cm}}. It persists in the soil as a pair of ovoid/subglobose tubers, with short roots. Its leaves are 5–20&nbsp;cm long, with basal leaves larger than aerial leaves and the plant is glabrous. Flowers are green-white with a long twisting/coiled labellum which may be tinged with a variety of colours; white, green, purple or brown. Flowers strongly smell of male [[goats]].<ref>[https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.00640.x Journal of Ecology - Himantoglossum hircinum]</ref>
A similar looking species called ''[[Himantoglossum adriaticum]]'' is found in Eastern Europe.
== Habitat and distribution ==
This orchid grows in dry meadows, rocky areas, and open woods. It tends to grow on south-facing grassy slopes, among ''[[Bromus]]'' and ''[[Brachypodium]]'' grasses.<ref>[https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.00640.x Journal of Ecology - Himantoglossum hircinum]</ref> In France it is often found on roadsides. In the United Kingdom it grows to a maximum altitude of 850m.<ref>[https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.00640.x Journal of Ecology - Himantoglossum hircinum]</ref>
This species is found across Europe, from Spain eastwards to the Balkans and in western North Africa. It is usually rare but can sometimes be found in great numbers in suitable habitats. Examples of sites for this species include among sand dunes at [[Sandwich Bay, Kent|Sandwich Bay]] in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Massif Central]] in [[France]] and the Mugello Valley in [[Italy]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001128.pdf |title=Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes SSSI citation |access-date=2010-10-01 |archive-date=2012-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427052255/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001128.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Ecology ==
[[Image:BockriemenzungeH3b.jpg|thumb|left|Flowers]]
''Himantoglossum hircinum'' is a food-deceptive orchid species, meaning the flowers generally provide no nectar to their pollinators.<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259177165_Himantoglossum_hircinum_Lizard_Orchid_reviewed_in_the_light_of_new_morphological_and_molecular_observations New Zealand Journal of Botany - ''Himantoglossum hircinum'' (lizard orchid) reviewed in the light of new morphological and molecular observations]</ref> The [[Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland]] states however that some plants have been found to provide nectar to pollinators, and that it remains unclear which species are the principal pollinators of the lizard orchid, although they suggest ''[[Andrena]]'' bees.<ref>[http://sppaccounts.bsbi.org/content/himantoglossum-hircinum-1.html BSBI Species Accounts - Himantoglossum hircinum]</ref>
It has been suggested that ''H. hircinum'' is a [[mycorrhizal fungi|mycorrhizal]] generalist, though some have questioned this, due to the species' limited distribution, and the issue remains unresolved.<ref>[http://real.mtak.hu/9742/1/Bateman%20et%20al.%20%282013%29%20Hhircinum%20REAL.pdf New Journal of Botany - Morphometric, molecular, ontogenetic and demographic observations on selected populations of the Lizard Orchid, ''Himantoglossum hircinum'']</ref>
== Chemistry ==
[[Orchinol]], [[loroglossol]] and [[hircinol]] are phenanthrenoids that can be isolated from infected ''Loroglossum hircinum''.<ref>Structure of Orchinol, Loroglossol, and Hircinol. Roy M. Letcher and Llewellyn R. M. Nhamo, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1973, pages 1263-1265, {{doi|10.1039/P19730001263}}</ref>
== Conservation ==
This is a rare species with protected status in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Germany]] and possibly other countries.<ref>[http://sppaccounts.bsbi.org/content/himantoglossum-hircinum-1.html BSBI Species Accounts - Himantoglossum hircinum]</ref>
==Etymology==
The 'lizard' in the plant's English common-name refers to the shape and colour of the flowers. The Latin genus ''[[Himantoglossum]]'' means 'strap-tongue', after the shape of the flower labellum and the species epithet 'hircinum' means 'of goats', after the smell the flowers produce.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZApCBAAAQBAJ&dq=himantoglossum+tongue+greek+strap&pg=PA353 Orchids of Britain and Ireland: A Field and Site Guide - Genus Himantoglossum]</ref> In German the plant is known as 'Bocks Riemenzunge', which translates as 'buck's (i.e. goat's) strap-tongue'. The French name 'l'orchis bouc' means 'buck (i.e. goat) orchid'.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150610230643/http://www.europeanorchids.com/index.php/en/photographs/pollinators/image?view=image&format=raw&type=img&id=412  J. Claessens, J. Kleynen: ''European orchids'' – ''Andrena sp.'' pollinator of ''Himantoglossum hircinum'']
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q159296}}
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[[Category:Himantoglossum|hircinum]]
[[Category:Orchids of Europe]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]