Fragrant orchid
Gymnadenia conopsea

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It grows 20-60 cm tall. The tubers are oval and 1-4 cm long. They have several short slender lobes. The stem is stout and has 2 or 3 tube shaped sheaths at the base. There are 3-5 leaves on the stalk. The leaves can be widely spaced or clustered. They are 6-20 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowering stalk is 11-26 cm long. It has many flowers densely arranged. The flowers have a scent. They are pink.

There are about 7 Gymnadenia species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grasslands and water-logged meadows between It grows in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Europe, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Russia, Slovenia, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The bulb is used in porridge and bread.

Edible parts

Root, corm

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Basak salebi, Navadni kukovičnik, Salep, Vranjak

Synonyms

Habenaria conopsea ((L.) Benth. non Rchb.f.; Orchis conopsea (L.);