Limodorum abortivum
Limodore à feuilles avortées
Violet Bird’s Nest Orchid
Additional information
| Plant family | |
|---|---|
| Area | Provence Verte |
| Flower colour | purple |
| Flower size | 40-45 mm |
| Flowering months | April, May, June |
| Leaf type | Scales |
| Height | 40-80 cm |
Description
The colouring of this orchid is quite dark, easy to miss. It has no green leaves, just scales and no tubers. Although it possesses photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll), there are not enough to support an adult plant, hence no green leaves.
It grows close to evergreen oaks and pines in open woodland. It receives its nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that have a symbiotic association with the roots of evergreen oak and pines.
Another Limodorum can sometimes be found, Limodorum var. trabutianum, smaller, quite rare.
Flowers
The flowers have violet sepals and petals, they spread outwards and are pointed. The sepals are larger than the petals. The labellum is 14-17 mm long, yellowish, stained with violet.
Leaves
Scales leaves resemble green scales e.g. Cupressus, Juniperus. Numerous sheathing scale leaves, violet-brown.
Fruits Seeds
Capsule: with numerous seeds.
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