Loss of pigment with Himantoglossum adriaticum

photo: Matthias Svojtka, 4.6.2014, in Vienna

Himantoglossum hircinum and Himantoglossum robertianum belong to the most common orchid species in southern Europe. In case of both species there are regularly plants with flowers lacking the Anthocyanine pigment. Those albiflora forms have green and white flowers instead of flowers with reddish stripes and points.

photo: Matthias Svojtka, 4.6.2014, in Vienna

Matthias Svojtka of the University of Vienna has also found an anthocyanine free form of the much rarer Adriatic lizard orchid (Himantoglossum adriaticum). “At this Himantoglossum location in the Lower Lobau there is a quite big population of about 40 to 60 plants in open grasslands, every year there are also one or two white-flowered plants“, he wrote about his photos.

photo: Matthias Svojtka, 4.6.2014, in Vienna

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.