Family: Orchidaceae
Author: Soó (Poir.)
Bibliography: Nom. nov. gen. Dactylorhiza 7. 1962
Year: 1962
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Dactylorhiza
Vegetable: False
Observations: W. Europe to W. & WC. Medit.
Description
The Stately dactylorhiza, scientifically known as Dactylorhiza elata, is a fascinating and elegant member of the Orchidaceae family. First classified under its current genus in 1962 by the botanist Soó (Poir.), this orchid has captured the interest of botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.
Dactylorhiza elata is native to a broad region extending from Western Europe through to the Western and West-Central Mediterranean. This geographic range highlights its adaptability to diverse habitats within these areas. Often found in moist meadows, marshes, and damp woodlands, the Stately dactylorhiza thrives in environments that provide sufficient moisture and partial sun exposure.
One of the most striking features of this orchid is its tall, robust stature. As its common name suggests, it stands with a stately and commanding presence, producing an inflorescence that can reach impressive heights. The flowers of Dactylorhiza elata display a vivid array of colors, typically shades of pinkish-purple, with intricate patterns that serve to attract pollinators. The blooms are delicately fragrant, adding another layer of allure to this already enchanting plant.
The leaves of the Stately dactylorhiza are lanceolate and can often be spotted with distinct markings that further enhance its aesthetic appeal. These leaves emerge from fleshy, tuberous roots that store nutrients, enabling the plant to survive in varying conditions and providing it with the resources needed for its impressive floral displays.
Due to its beauty and distinctive characteristics, Dactylorhiza elata is sometimes cultivated for ornamental purposes in gardens that can replicate its native wetland conditions. However, in the wild, it plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem by providing nectar for insects and contributing to the biodiversity of the regions it inhabits.
Overall, the Stately dactylorhiza is a remarkable orchid that exemplifies the diversity and splendor of the Orchidaceae family. Its presence in Western Europe to the Western and West-Central Mediterranean region, coupled with its striking appearance, makes it a noteworthy subject of study and admiration in the botanical world.
Common Names
Swe: stora ängsnycklar
Eng: stately dactylorhiza
Fra: orchis elevé
En: Stately Dactylorhiza
Nl: Grote rietorchis
Fr: Orchis Elevé, Orchis élevé
De: Hohes Knabenkraut
Es: Satirión
Sv: Stora ängsnycklar
: Stately dactylorhiza
Synonyms
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. iberica ((T.Stephenson) Kreutz)
- Orchis incarnata subsp. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) E.G.Camus)
- Dactylorhiza atlantica (Kreutz & Vlaciha)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. brennensis (E.Nelson)
- Orchis elata f. albiflora (Maire)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. alba ((Soó) Raynaud)
- Orchis rassautae ((Alleiz.) Alleiz.)
- Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) H.A.Pedersen & Hedrén)
- Orchis elata var. ambigua ((J.A.Guim.) Schltr.)
- Orchis elata f. willdenowiana (Soó)
- Orchis latifolia var. corsica (E.Rev. ex E.G.Camus)
- Orchis elata subvar. durandiana (Maire & Weiller)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Landwehr)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. brennensis ((E.Nelson) P.Delforge)
- Dactylorhiza elata subvar. maroccanica ((Soó) Raynaud)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. corsica ((E.Rev. ex E.G.Camus) Soó)
- × Orchidactyla kabyliensis ((G.Keller) Aver.)
- Orchis incarnata var. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Rchb.f.)
- Orchis africana ((Klinge) A.W.Hill)
- Dactylorchis durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Verm.)
- Orchis elata var. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Schltr.)
- Orchis latifolia subsp. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Batt.)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Soó)
- Orchis latifolia var. ambigua ((J.A.Guim.) Rouy)
- Orchis sesquipedalis var. algerica ((Rchb.f.) Briq.)
- Dactylorhiza occitanica (Geniez, Melki, Pain & Soca)
- Orchis elata var. vestita ((Lag. & Rodr.) Losa & Rivas Goday)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. peltieri ((Soó) Raynaud)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. atlantica ((Kreutz & Vlaciha) Eccarius)
- Dactylorchis elata ((Poir.) Verm.)
- Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. elata ((Poir.) H.Sund.)
- Orchis latifolia subsp. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Maire)
- Orchis latifolia subsp. sesquipedala ((Willd.) Maire)
- Orchis elata var. poiretiana (Maire & Weiller)
- Orchis elata var. corsica ((E.Rev. ex E.G.Camus) Soó)
- Orchis elata var. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Soó)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Landwehr)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Kreutz)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. pallida ((Maire & Weiller) Raynaud)
- Orchis elata subsp. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) E.G.Camus)
- Orchis elata subsp. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Soó)
- Orchis elata var. algerica ((Rchb.f.) Maire & Weiller)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. speciosissima ((Soó) Raynaud)
- Orchis elata f. leucantha (Maire & Weiller)
- Dactylorhiza durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) M.Laínz)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. occitanica ((Geniez, Melki, Pain & Soca) P.Delforge)
- Orchis incarnata var. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Willk.)
- Dactylorhiza brennensis ((E.Nelson) D.Tyteca & Gathoye)
- Orchis latifolia var. elongata (Maire)
- Orchis elata (Poir.)
- Orchis elata f. speciosissima (Soó)
- Orchis kabyliensis (G.Keller)
- Orchis elata f. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Soó)
- Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. brennensis ((E.Nelson) D.Tyteca & M.Hedrén)
- Dactylorhiza elata subvar. speciosissima ((Soó) Raynaud)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. ambigua ((J.A.Guim.) Soó)
- Orchis elata f. alba (Soó)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. iberica ((T.Stephenson) Soó)
- Orchis lusitanica (Steud.)
- Orchis elata subsp. ambigua ((J.A.Guim.) Soó)
- Orchis durandii (Boiss. & Reut.)
- Dactylorhiza munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Holub)
- Orchis incarnata var. algerica (Rchb.f.)
- Orchis sesquipedalis var. corsica ((E.Rev. ex E.G.Camus) Briq.)
- Dactylorhiza elata subvar. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Raynaud)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. elongata ((Maire) Kreutz, Rebbas & Véla)
- Orchis elata f. mairei (Soó)
- Orchis incarnata var. ambigua (J.A.Guim.)
- Orchis elata f. pallida (Maire & Weiller)
- Orchis sesquipedalis var. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Briq.)
- Gymnadenia elata ((Poir.) Lindl.)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. ambigua ((J.A.Guim.) Kreutz)
- Orchis incarnata subsp. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) E.G.Camus)
- Dactylorhiza vestita ((Lag. & Rodr.) Aver.)
- Orchis elata subvar. stephensonii (Maire & Weiller)
- Orchis latifolia var. durandii ((Boiss. & Reut.) Ball)
- Orchis kabyliensis var. rassautae (Alleiz.)
- Orchis latifolia var. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Batt.)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Soó)
- Orchis sesquipedalis var. iberica (T.Stephenson)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. cordata (Landwehr)
- Dactylorchis sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Verm.)
- Orchis vestita (Lag. & Rodr.)
- Dactylorhiza elata subvar. stephensonii ((Maire & Weiller) Raynaud)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. elongata ((Maire) Maire)
- Orchis latifolia var. labrovaria (Brot.)
- Orchis incarnata subsp. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) E.G.Camus)
- Orchis orientalis subsp. africana (Klinge)
- Orchis elata f. klingeana (Soó)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. algerica ((Rchb.f.) P.Delforge)
- Orchis elata f. elongata ((Maire) Soó)
- Orchis latifolia subsp. elata ((Poir.) Maire)
- Dactylorhiza elata var. munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Soó)
- Dactylorhiza elata f. leucantha ((Maire & Weiller) Raynaud)
- Orchis incarnata var. elatior (E.G.Camus)
- Orchis elata f. maroccanica (Soó)
- Dactylorchis munbyana ((Boiss. & Reut.) Verm.)
- Orchis elata f. peltieri (Soó)
- Dactylorhiza elata subsp. mauritanica (B.Baumann & H.Baumann)
- Orchis sesquipedalis (Willd.)
- Orchis latifolia subsp. lusitanica ((Steud.) Gand.)
- Orchis sesquipedalis var. angustifolia (Samp.)
- Dactylorhiza sesquipedalis ((Willd.) M.Laínz)
- Orchis munbyana (Boiss. & Reut.)
- Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. africana ((Klinge) P.D.Sell)
- Orchis elata subsp. sesquipedalis ((Willd.) Soó)
Distribution
- Algeria (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Corse (native)
- France (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Spain (native)
- Tunisia (native)
Additional Images
Habit
Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Bernard TILLY (©)
Taken May 9, 2021 by Etzyah Etzyah 🌙 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2021 by Lars P (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 23, 2021 by López Javier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2017 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by Pérez Juan Manuel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by Pérez Juan Manuel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by F. Manzano (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 1, 2020 by Ramón Valle (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2017 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Apr 13, 2019 by Manuel Blanchard (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 19, 2022 by F. Manzano (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2021 by Lars P (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 17, 2020 by des 4 saisons le jardin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by Pérez Juan Manuel (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 19, 2021 by Ramón Valle (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Apr 18, 2021 by passereau (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 2, 2021 by Dietmar Zechner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 1996 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:626599-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7861697)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Dactylorhiza elata (Poir.) Soó)
Specifications
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 9
Atmospheric humidity: 8
Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’]
Soil nutriments: 2
