2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Anacampis (lat. Anacamptis) - a genus of herbaceous flowering perennial plants of the Orchid family (Latin Orchidaceae). Their appearance and the presence of underground tubers make them very similar to plants of the Orchis genus (Latin Orchis), which is not at all surprising, because according to the botanical classification of plants of the Orchid family, the Anacamptis genus belongs to the Orchid tribe (Latin Orchideae). This is another genus of Orchids that do not live on trees, like their tropical relatives, but take root in the ground.
What's in your name
The spelling of the genus name "Anacamptis" in horticultural literature and discussion is often shortened to three letters - "Ant".
The name and composition of the genus were officially established in 1817 by the French botanist Louis Claude Richard (09.19.1754 - 06.06.1821), who specialized in the study of mosses, ferns and seed plants. The type species of the genus is the plant Anacamptis pyramidalis (Latin Anacamptis pyramidalis).
Interestingly, his son, Achille Richard (1794-27-04 - 1852-05-10), followed in his father's footsteps, somewhat broadening the circle of his interests. In particular, he owns a description of several genera of plants of the Orchid family.
The Latin name of the genus "Anacamptis" is based on the Greek word, the meaning of which, translated into Russian, means "to lean back."
Description
Plants of the genus Anacamptis are perennial orchids that live on the ground. Their longevity is guaranteed by whole underground tubers, which have an almost spherical shape. The height of the aboveground part of the plant, depending on the species, ranges from 25 to 65 centimeters.
Linear wide leaves gently embrace the erect strong stem. The surface of the leaf plate is decorated with a network of longitudinal veins, and the green color is disturbed by dark spots, similar to the traces of miniature paws of living creatures.
The spike-shaped inflorescence resembles the inflorescence of plants of the genus Orchis, in which numerous miniature flowers begin to bloom in a "bottom-up" pattern. Pollinated flowers lose withering petals, passing on the vegetative baton to the development and ripening of seeds.
Each flower is surrounded by membranous bracts. The complex structure of the flower, characteristic of all orchids, is also characteristic of the miniature flowers of the Anacamptis genus. It is possible that the name of the genus was the lateral petals of the perianth, bent "back". Flower petals of different types can be colored in white, pink, purple-red shades.
Varieties
The number of species included in the genus Anacamptis is variable. After all, botanical science, adopting modern methods of studying morphology and genetics, transfers some previously included plant genus to other genera, or adds newly identified relatives to the genus.
As of May 2014, the genus consisted of 11 species, two of which had subspecies. Let's list some of them:
* Anacamptis bugbearing (lat. Anacamptis coriophora)
* Anacamptis Collina (lat. Anacamptis collina)
* Anacamptis marsh (lat. Anacamptis palustris)
* Anacamptis pyramidal (lat. Anacamptis pyramidalis) - is a type species of the genus Anacamptis
* Anacamptis israeli (lat. Anacamptis israelitica)
* Anacamptis Morio (lat. Anacamptis morio)
* Anacampis loose-flowered (lat. Anacamptis laxiflora)
* Anacamptis papilionacea (lat. Anacamptis papilionacea), or Butterfly Orchid
* Anacamptis Sancta (Latin Anacamptis sancta).
Usage
Beautiful and bright inflorescences of certain species of the genus Anacampis, which are characterized by a rather unpretentious nature that allows them to grow on limestone, allow the use of plants of the genus in rocky gardens and other types of flower beds.
