Military orchis, Soldier orchis
Orchis militaris
Family: Orchidaceae
What it is like
An orchid. It is robust and 25-50 cm high. The tubers are oval and 1-1.5 cm across. The leaves form a ring and are glossy light green. The flower stalk carries 20-30 flowers. The flowers are 2 cm across. The lip is pink with small dark purple, hair like tufts.
There are about 33 Orchis species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on calcareous soils in dry grassland and light forests. It grows between sea level and 1800 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Asia, Britain, China, Europe, France, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Russia
How it is used for food
The bulb is a source of edible starch, after processing and drying.
Edible parts
Root