Early Purple Orchis, Spotted orchis, Male orchis
Orchis mascula

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It is 20-50 cm high. The leaves are usually spotted. The flower stalk carries 6-20 flowers. The flowers are 2 cm across. The flower colour varies from light rose to red-purple. The base of the lip is white with purple-red spots.

There are about 33 Orchis species. It contains bassorin and starch.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in light deciduous and mixed forest and open spaces. It grows from sea level in northern Europe to 3000 m in Southern Europe.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Britain, Europe, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Myanmar, SE Asia, Slovenia, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The dried tubers are cooked and eaten as food. It is also the source of a fine white powder used as food. This is used to make drinks or porridge. They are used in ice cream.

Edible parts

Roots, tubers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cam salebi, Orkid, Saleb misra, Stasita kukavica

Synonyms

Orchis mascula subsp. pinetorum (Boiss. & Kotschy) Schltr.; and many others