Family: Orchidaceae
Author: (L.) Rchb.f.
Bibliography: Bonplandia (Hannover) 4: 321 (1856)
Year: 1856
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Gymnadenia
Vegetable: False
Observations: N. & C. Norway to C. Sweden
Description
The Chocolate Orchid, known scientifically as Gymnadenia nigra, is a captivating member of the Orchidaceae family. First documented in 1856 in the journal Bonplandia, this species has garnered attention for its enchanting beauty and unique characteristics.
Gymnadenia nigra thrives in a range that extends from Northern and Central Norway to Central Sweden. This geographical distribution highlights its ability to adapt to the cool, temperate climates found in these regions. The plant prefers open, sunlit areas, often emerging as a striking feature in meadows and along forest margins, where it benefits from the mix of sunlight and partial shade.
This orchid is renowned not only for its exotic beauty but also for its delicate and alluring fragrance, which faintly resembles chocolate, hence its common name, the Chocolate Orchid. The scent is most potent during the plant’s blooming period, which typically spans the summer months. The flowers are small but numerous, forming dense, cylindrical spikes that range in color from deep purples to almost black, further enhancing the plant’s mysterious allure.
As with many orchids, Gymnadenia nigra has a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which is essential for its germination and growth. This complex interaction between plant and fungus underscores the unique ecological niche Gymnadenia nigra occupies in its native habitat.
Conservation efforts are crucial for this species, particularly as natural habitats face threats from human activities and climate change. Enthusiasts and botanists alike are dedicated to preserving this extraordinary orchid, ensuring that its legacy continues to thrive in the wild and in cultivation.
In sum, the Chocolate Orchid, Gymnadenia nigra, is a botanical treasure that combines visual elegance with a subtle olfactory delight, making it a fascinating subject for study and admiration in the world of plants.
Common Names
Nor: svartkurle
Swe: brunkulla, brunyxne
Nob: svartkurle
Nno: svartkurle
En: Chocolate orchid, Black Vanilla Orchid, Common black orchid
Fr: Nigritelle noire, Orchis vanille
De: Schwarzes Männerfreu, Blutströpfchen-Kohlröschen, Blutströpfchenkohlröschen, Gewöhnliches Kohlröschen, Männerfreu, Schwarze Männerfreu, Schwarzes Kohlröschen
No: Svartkurle
Nb: Svartkurle
Nn: Svartkurle
Sv: Brunkulla, Brunyxne
Synonyms
- Orchis variegata (Schrank)
- Gymnadenia nigra var. longibracteata ((Beck) Wettst.)
- Orchis nigra var. flore-rosea (DC.)
- Nigritella nigra f. longibracteata ((Beck) Soó)
- Satyrium nigrum (L.)
- Habenaria nigra ((L.) R.Br.)
- Orchis moritziana (Brügger)
- Sieberia nigra ((L.) Spreng.)
- × Gymnigritella brachystachya ((A.Kern.) E.G.Camus)
- Orchis reichenbachii (Mutel)
- Nigritella hybrida (Schur)
- Nigritella fragrans (Saut. ex Rchb.)
- Nigritella nigra ((L.) Rchb.f.)
- Nigritella fragrans var. megastachya ((A.Kern.) Rouy)
- Nigritella angustifolia f. longibracteata (Beck)
- Nigritella suaveolens (W.D.J.Koch)
- Nigritella angustifolia (Rich.)
- Nigritella megastachya (A.Kern.)
- Orchis atropurpurea (Tausch)
- × Gymnigritella megastachya ((A.Kern.) E.G.Camus)
- Nigritella suaveolens var. nigroconopsea (Rchb.f.)
- Nigritella brachystachya (A.Kern.)
- Orchis nigra ((L.) Scop.)
Distribution
- Norway (native)
- Sweden (native)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Jun 27, 2020 by Silvia Sa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Jaroslava Starcová (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2018 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2018 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2018 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jun 13, 2020 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2022 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 12, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 18, 2007 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2020 by samuel trombert (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jul 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2013 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 18, 2019 by Elisa Palermo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 17, 2021 by Pietro Brignoli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 10, 2021 by Manuëlle (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 1, 2017 by herve rey (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 6, 2021 by Medesima Me (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 5, 2021 by g amby (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 16, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Claudio Malpede (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Aug 4, 2016 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 4, 2016 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 12, 2018 by Zanirato Federico Ethan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 17, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 20, 2020 by MICHEL DUSSERE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2018 by Vladimír Valach (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 12, 2019 by Tomas Stanger (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 19, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Gymnadenia nigra (L.) Rchb.f.)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2840590)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:636563-1)
Specifications
Growth
Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’]