giant orchid

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• giant orchid

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Barlia longibracteata var. gallica
• Himantoglossum longibracteatum var. gallicum
• Himantoglossum robertianum f. gallicum
• Orchis longibracteata var. sicula
• Orchis longibracteata var. gallica
• Barlia robertiana lusus candida
• Orchis robertiana
• Barlia robertiana
• Himantoglossum longibracteatum
• Himantoglossum robertianum f. candidum
• Barlia robertiana f. sicula
• Loroglossum longibracteatum
• Barlia longibracteata
• Himantoglossum robertianum f. siculum
• Aceras longibracteatum
• Aceras longibracteatum var. sicula
• Himantoglossum longibracteatum var. siculum
• Barlia longibracteata var. sicula
• Aceras longibracteatum var. gallica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Orchidaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Himantoglossum, which includes the species Himantoglossum robertianum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in Belgium and Germany. It also inhabits the landscapes of the Netherlands. Finally, its range extends into the mountainous areas of Switzerland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Himantoglossum robertianum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a cryptophyte, a strategy that enables it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions by protecting its regenerative organs underground. Furthermore, its specific life form is identified as a geophyte, indicating that it relies on underground storage organs to endure periods of dormancy and facilitate regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Himantoglossum robertianum is characterized by a non-woody structure that lacks lignified tissue, resulting in a soft and flexible form. This plant functions as a self-supporting climber, maintaining its own structural integrity without the need for external scaffolding. In terms of its ecological niche and growth habit, it is categorized as a terrestrial organism, though it exhibits a versatile range of habitat preferences spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments. Furthermore, it operates as an independent entity, showing no parasitic tendencies toward other organisms, and it is not classified as an epiphyte, as it does not grow upon other plants in a terrestrial fashion.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Himantoglossum robertianum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gastrodigenin, Gastrodin, PARISHIN E, Parishin A, Parishin C.

Gastrodigenin

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Gastrodin

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

PARISHIN E

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Parishin A

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Parishin C

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)ether

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Conditions

Himantoglossum robertianum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include neurological disorders.

Neurological disorders

1. Natural products and bioprospecting