Serapias vomeracea
Encyclopedia
Serapias vomeracea, common name Long Lipped Serapias or the Plow-Share Serapias, is a species of orchid in the genus Serapias
.
perennial plant with two ovoidal underground tubers. This species is highly variable in color and shape. It reaches an height of 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 ), with a maximum of 60 centimetres (23.6 in). The stem is green, with two membranous basal leaves and 6-8 upper leaves, lanceolate and glossy green or reddish.
The inflorescence is composed by a narrow and elongated spike, with three to ten flowers. The relevant bracts are lanceolate and much longer than the tepal
s. Their color is red-purple, with darker longitudinal venation. The outer tepal
s are lanceolate and erect, forming an helmet-like structure. Their color is purple-red or pinkish, with veins of darker color. The internal lateral tepal
s are brownish-purple and almost entirely hidden by the helmet.
The labellum
is brick red, trilobed and larger than the other tepal
s. The basal portion (hypochile) of the labellum
is concave and enclosed in the helmet, with two raised and hairy lateral lobes. The apical portion of the labellum
(epichile) is triangular-lanceolate, usually purple-red and quite hairy. The spur is missing. The flowering period extends from March to June.
and Lymexylidae family) and by Hymenoptera
(genus Ceratina
, Eucera and Osmia). The dispersal of seeds is granted by the wind (anemochory).
, the Mediterranean Basin
to the Caucasus
.
Serapias
Serapias is a genus of terrestrial orchids that can be found all over southern Europe to Asia Minor. The genus was named after Serapis, a syncretic Hellenistic-Egyptian god in Antiquity....
.
Etymology
The name Serapias of the genus derives from the Greek Sarapis, the Graeco-Egyptian god, already used in ancient times to name some orchids. The Latin name vomeracea of this species refers to the shape of the apical portion of the labellum (epichile) reminiscent of the ploughshare of a plough.Description
Serapias vomeracea is an herbaceousHerbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant with two ovoidal underground tubers. This species is highly variable in color and shape. It reaches an height of 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 ), with a maximum of 60 centimetres (23.6 in). The stem is green, with two membranous basal leaves and 6-8 upper leaves, lanceolate and glossy green or reddish.
The inflorescence is composed by a narrow and elongated spike, with three to ten flowers. The relevant bracts are lanceolate and much longer than the tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s. Their color is red-purple, with darker longitudinal venation. The outer tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s are lanceolate and erect, forming an helmet-like structure. Their color is purple-red or pinkish, with veins of darker color. The internal lateral tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s are brownish-purple and almost entirely hidden by the helmet.
The labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
is brick red, trilobed and larger than the other tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s. The basal portion (hypochile) of the labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
is concave and enclosed in the helmet, with two raised and hairy lateral lobes. The apical portion of the labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
(epichile) is triangular-lanceolate, usually purple-red and quite hairy. The spur is missing. The flowering period extends from March to June.
Reproduction
Serapias vomeracea is an entomophilous plant, but cannot offer floral rewards to pollinators, as it does not produce nectar. Therefore this orchid has a deceptive strategy, as pollinators are just attracted by the shape of the flower, forming a small tube used by insects to rest by night or as a refuge against the rain. In this process the pollen stuck to the pollinators bodies. Once they leave their shelter, they will deposit the pollen on other flowers and will fertilize them. These orchids are mainly pollinated by some beetles (OedemeridaeOedemeridae
The family Oedemeridae is a cosmopolitan group of beetles commonly known as false blister beetles, though some recent authors have coined the name pollen-feeding beetles...
and Lymexylidae family) and by Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
(genus Ceratina
Ceratina
The cosmopolitan bee genus Ceratina, often referred to as small carpenter bees, is the sole lineage of the tribe Ceratinini, and closely related to the more familiar carpenter bees...
, Eucera and Osmia). The dispersal of seeds is granted by the wind (anemochory).
Subspecies
- Serapias vomeracea (Burm. f.) Briq. subsp. vomeracea
- Serapias vomeracea (Burm. f.) Briq. subsp. longipetala (Ten.) H. Baumann & Künkele
- Serapias vomeracea (Burm. f.) Briq. subsp. laxiflora (Soó) Gölz & H.R. Reinhard
Distribution
The species is widespread from south-central EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Mediterranean Basin
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
to the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.