Liparis loeselii

Liparis loeselii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Subtribe: Malaxidinae
Genus: Liparis
Species:
L. loeselii
Binomial name
Liparis loeselii
Synonyms[1]
  • Ophrys loeselii L.
  • Ophrys trigona Gilib.
  • Ophrys pulchella Salisb.
  • Cymbidium loeselii (L.) Sw.
  • Malaxis loeselii (L.) Sw.
  • Serapias loeselii (L.) Hoffm.
  • Malaxis correana W.P.C. Barton
  • Malaxis longifolia W. P. C. Barton
  • Pseudorchis loeselii (L.) Gray
  • Anistylis lutea Raf.
  • Sturmia loeselii (L.) Rchb.
  • Liparis correana (W. P. C. Barton) Spreng.
  • Paliris loeselii (L.) Dumort.
  • Mesoptera loeselii (L.) Raf.
  • Orchis loeselii (L.) MacMill.
  • Liparis bifolia St.-Lag.
  • Leptorkis loeselii (L.) MacMill.
  • Liparis loeselii var. ovata Ridd. ex Godfery

Liparis loeselii, the fen orchid,[2] yellow widelip orchid,[3] or bog twayblade,[4] is a rare species of orchid. It is native to Europe, northern Asia, the eastern United States, and eastern Canada.[1] It grows in fens, bogs and dune slacks.[1] It has yellow flowers and glossy yellow-green leaves.[5]

It only grows to 5-20 centimetres. The lower part of the stem is surrounded by 2-3 relatively large light green, fatty leaves, tounge-like in appearance. Under these, a few inconspicuous small leaves can be found. The yellow-green flowers are normally numbered between 5-10. Sometimes only 1-2 flowers can be found, at most 30.

Small specimens which do not carry flowers can sometimes be confused with Malaxis monophyllos and Hammarbya paludosa which can be found in the same milieu.

The species was named for German botanist Johannes Loesel.[6]

Subspecies[7]
  1. Liparis loeselii subsp. loeselii - Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, United States
  2. Liparis loeselii subsp. orientalis Efimov - Altay region of Russia
  3. Liparis loeselii subsp. sachalinensis (Nakai) Efimov - Sakhalin Island in Russia

Threats of extinction

This plant is severely threatened and even extinct in many regions where it was previously found. Since it needs an even supply of water, changes in the biotope which affects water supply prove damaging. The draining or drying out of swamps and marshes can be particularly damaging for this plant.[8]

In Sweden, it is today only found in the islands Öland and Gotland as well as parts of Skåne, where it is a threatened species.[9]

In Norway, it is now considered extinct, having not been observed since 1933.[10]

In Finland, it is today only found in the island of Åland.

References

  1. ^ a b c Pridgeon, Alec M. (1992). The Illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-88192-267-7.
  2. ^ "BioLib - Liparis loeselii (Fen Orchid)". biolib.cz.
  3. ^ NRCS. "Liparis loeselii". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Liparis loeselii". Connecticut Botanical Society. March 1, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  5. ^ NPT CBC - County Flower
  6. ^ Chase, Mark; Christenhusz, Maarten; Mirenda, Tom (30 March 2018). The Book of Orchids: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from Around the World. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-22466-4. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  7. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  8. ^ "Regulation - 2019/2117 - EN - EUR-Lex". Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Ovanliga vilda växter i Sverige – naturens sällsynta skatter | DVBD.SE". Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Artfakta från SLU Artdatabanken". Retrieved 10 August 2025.


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