A giant among the terrestrial orchids of Europe, the extraordinary lizard orchid can tower well over a metre in height. To come across a colony in full flower is an unforgettable experience, and with their unmistakeable flowers, Himantoglossum cannot be confused with any other plant.
Himantoglossum In Flower
Lizard orchids can produce up to 150 flowers in a dense inflorescence. All orchids have six tepals (the collective name for petals and sepals), one petal of which is modified into a distinctive lip. in Himantoglossum hircinum, five of the tepals form a hooded structure, pale green with darker veining on the outside and marked with stronger, reddish-brown flecks and lines within.
While the hood is approximately a centimeter in length, the greatly elongated central lobe of the lip unravels to a length of between three and six centimeters. These lips are tightly coiled within the unopened buds but as the flowers open, they unwind and twist to form a strange hanging mantle of purplish green ribbons.
In addition to their strange appearance, the flowers of some Himantoglossum populations emit a strong odour of goats, and in various European countries this plant is known as the goat orchid.
Life Cycle And Longevity of the Lizard Orchid
Lizard orchids commence growth in the Autumn, producing a basal rosette of numerous lanceolate or elliptical foliage, and stem leaves that decrease in size towards the inflorescence. Flowering occurs from May to July and, once the seeds are shed, the plant withers and spends its summer dormancy as an ovate or globose tuber.
Plants can live up to 20 years but frequently do not flower until their tenth year. Some bloom sporadically, while others only flower once before dying.
Pollination of the Lizard Orchid
The processes of pollination in Himantoglossum hircinum are poorly understood, but several solitary bee species have been found with the pollinia of this orchid attached to them. These adhesive, pollen bearing structures are a speciality of the orchids and are designed to stick to visiting insects.
Among the bees associated with Himantoglossum are members of the genus Andrena, a group of insects also involved in the complex sexual deception staged by that other charismatic group of Mediterranean orchids, Ophrys.
Unlike the blooms of Ophrys, however, those of the lizard orchid are clearly not attempting to masquerade as female bees! Scent may play a role in pollination but not all lizard orchids have the distinctive caprine aroma.
What is more, some even lack nectar with which to reward their pollinators, so there is clearly a great deal more to be learned regarding this mysterious process.
Himantoglossum In Context
Orchids are the most recent family of flowering plants to appear, and many genera are actively evolving. This often creates problems for botanists who, in the light of recent research, frequently have to reclassify species.
In the case of Himantoglossum, the genus was thought to contain nine distinct species but some experts believe that five of these are subspecies of Himantoglossum hircinum. Not only this, but genetic analysis has shown that two other European genera, Barlia and Comperia, should probably be included within Himantoglossum.
Distribution of Himantoglossum hircinum
France is the stronghold of the lizard orchid, but it is also found in North Africa, Germany, Spain, southern England, Belgium and Italy, extending eastwards into the Balkans.
Interestingly, its location tends to vary between countries. Though generally a plant of altitudes under 500 metres, in Spain populations are sparsely scattered but can be encountered at far higher elevations. In Germany, the orchid grows on south facing slopes, while in Britain its status has been of particular interest over the last century.
In England, the lizard orchid is at its northern limit and is probably restricted by cooler summer temperatures. Numbers have fluctuated dramatically since the 1920s, a fluid situation that may be linked with climate change. One large English colony grows on a golf course and it is believed that the tiny seeds have been helped to spread by sticking to the shoes of golfers.
Monitoring The Lizard Orchid
Throughout much of its range,Himantoglossum hircinum seems to be at the very edge of a primarily Mediterranean distribution. This marginality is so pronounced that in colder winters, even established colonies can be damaged by frost and plants may be affected so much that they cannot flower the following Spring.
This makes the lizard orchid an excellent subject for research into how climate change is influencing plant populations. Throughout Europe, there are currently 16 permanent monitoring sites for the species, including two in southern England, four in France and two in southern Spain.
Not only, then, is the fascinating lizard orchid unlike any other species, it is aiding us in our attempt to understand how global changes are affecting species and ecosystems.
References
ARKive: Lizard orchid: Himantoglossum hircinum
Botanical Society of the British Isles: Species Accounts: Himantoglossum hircinum
Manuel Becerra Parra, Estrella Robles Domínguez: Guía de campo de las orquídeas silvestres de Andalucía Editorial La Serranía; Ronda 2009: ISBN 978 84 96607 70 5
Peter Ashby - Peter Ashby lives near Granada in southern Spain, is an expert on natural history, and a dedicated traveller, writer and hispanist.
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