Lizard orchid  (Himantoglossum hircinum)

Species information

Videos and images

Authentication

Information authenticated by Peter Carey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Glossary

Calcareous: Containing free calcium carbonate, chalky.
Germinate: The beginning of growth, usually following a period of dormancy and in response to favourable conditions. For example, the sprouting of a seedling from a seed.
Mycorrhizal: A fungus that forms a close physical association with the roots of a plant, this relationship is mutually beneficial.
Perennial: Plants that live for at least three seasons; after an initial period they produce flowers once a year.
Pollinia: A mass of pollen grains.
Sepals: A floral leaf (collectively comprising the calyx of the flower) that forms the protective outer layer of a flower bud. (See <link>http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/pdfs/flower.pdf</link> for a fact sheet on flower structure).
Tubers: In plants, a thickened stem or root that acts as an underground storage organ. Roots and shoots grow from growth buds, called 'eyes', on the surface of the tuber.

References

  1. Fisher, J. (1987) Wild Flowers in Danger. H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd, London.
  2. Good, R. (1936) On the distribution of Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum). New Phytologist, 35: 142 - 170.
  3. JNCC Habitat account - Natural and semi-natural grassland formations (September, 2008)
    http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/habitat.asp?FeatureIntCode=H6211
  4. JNCC Species other than birds specially protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981: Schedule 8 (Plants) (September, 2008)
    http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1816
  5. Mabey, R. (1996) Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson, London.
  6. Rich, T.C.G. (1997) The Management of Semi-natural Lowland Grassland for Selected Rare and Scarce Vascular Plants: A Review. English Nature, Peterborough.
  7. Carey, P.D. and Farrell, L. (2002) Biological Flora of the British Isles; Himantoglossum hircinum. Journal of Ecology, 90: 206 - 218.
  8. Carey, P.D. (1999) Changes in the distribution and abundance of Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) over the last 100 years. Watsonia, 22: 353 - 364.
  9. Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. and Dines, T.D. (2002) New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  10. Carey, P.D., Farrell, F. and Stewart, N.F. (2002) The sudden increase in the abundance of Himantoglossum hircinum in England in the past decade and what has caused it. In: Kindlmann, P., Willems, J.H. and Whigham, D.F. Eds. Trends and Fluctuations and Underlying Mechanisms in Terrestrial Orchid Populations. Bachuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands.
  11. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Sainsbury Orchid Project (March, 2002)
    http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets
  12. Carey, P.D. and Brown, N.J. (1994) The use of GIS to identify sites that will become suitable for a rare orchid, Himantoglossum hircinum L. in a future changed climate. Biodiversity Letters, 2: 117 - 123.
  13. Carey, P.D. (1996) DISPERSE: A cellular automaton for predicting the distribution of species in a changed climate. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters, 5: 217 - 226.
  14. JNCC Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. (September, 2008)
    http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1377