Pale Orchid

Appearance

''Orchis pallens'' is the least variable of the ''Orchis'' genus.

It has a tuber, which is round, or oval in shape. They are 3–3.5 cm long and 1.5–2 cm in diameter, underneath the tuber are numerous secondary roots which are 10–20 cm long.

Above the tuber, it has 4-6 leaves, arranged in basal rosette. The leaves are large, 6–15 cm long and 1.5–5 cm wide. They are sometimes so long that they cover the flowers. They are unspotted, and oblong or oblong-ovate, or lanceolate shaped, green, shiny, bright, and smooth.

In Central Europe, ''O. pallens'' is sometimes confused with yellow-flowering form of orchid, ''Dactylorhiza sambucina''. They can easily be distinguished from each other by several morphological features, including ''D. sambucina'' has leaves which are distributed along the stem.

''Orchis pallens'' has a strong, straight, green stem, which is 15–45 cm tall.

''Orchis pallens'' is one of the first orchids in the northern part of its distribution area to bloom. As it blooms in the spring, or mid spring to late spring, between from late April to late May, and sometimes in June.
The blooms give a fragrance that is similar to elder tree flowers. One source regarded that the flower smells like the urine of cats, and the foul fragrance is mostly nocturnal and foul, notes another source. Although another source claims it is pleasantly and delicately fragrant.

It has pale yellow, or yellow flowers.

In terms of identification, it can be readily distinguished from the similarly coloured ''Orchis pauciflora'' and ''Orchis provincialis'', and also ''Orchis laeta'', by virtue of the total lack of lip markings on the flowers of ''O. pallens''. The other mentioned orchid species have red-dots on the flower lips. The unspotted, somewhat darker lip contains no nectar. The labellum or lip is slightly trilobal, wider, slightly convex and longer than the other petals. It is 6-16 mm long and 7-16 mm wide, slightly arched in the centre, has edges which are rolled up and is yellow-greenish.

''Orchis pallens'' can also be easily differentiated from ''Dactylorhiza sambucina'', by the presence of bracts which protrude through the inflorescence. The bracts of ''O. pallens'' are yellow.

The flower of ''O. pallens'' is 4–10 cm long. The upper outer petals are almost elliptical, blunt, 8-100 mm long and 6-80 mm wide. The lateral outer petals are of a similar size, but asymmetric, blunt and strongly bent back. The oval to lanceolate shaped, lateral inner petals are 6-80 mm long and 40 mm wide.

The ovary is 10-15 mm long, narrow, arched, twisted and green.

After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule which is 15–20 mm long and a bit bloated.

Distribution

The distribution of ''O. pallens'' is widespread in Europe, stretching from northern Spain, heading east across central Europe and the Balkans, to the Middle East and the Caucasus region in the east.
It is found in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France and Corsica), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. It is missing in the British Isles and Scandinavia.
The northern limit of its distribution in Germany and Poland, mainly southern Poland.

Status

It is considered nowhere in its wide distribution area, common and in most areas it is deemed extremely rare, it is uncommon and occurs sporadically almost everywhere in Central Europe.

The main threats to the newly found localities of Orchis pallens are succession processes in xerothermic
The populations of the orchid and their habitats are declining, especially in central Europe due to various anthropogenic threats including: the stopping of the coppicing of woods, this causes a decrease in the amount of light reaching the forest floor. Overgrowth of suitable habitats presents one of the greatest threats to the existing populations.
Other human threats include farming urbanisation and infrastructure expansion, tourism and deforestation and plant collection.

Further habitat threats are posed by lack of rain, late frost, damage by wild animals such as badgers and wild boars, . This has meant many population sites have been declining rapidly especially in central Europe.

Owing to the decline of its natural populations, ''O. pallens'' has been protected by law in many European countries .

It is on the 'Carpathian Red List of Endangered Species' , and it is in "Red book of vascular plants from Romania" .

In southern Poland, active nature protection is employing measures such as mowing or shrub removal.

It is a highly endangered species in Czech, it is protected by law, and it is also covered by the protection of the internal CITES convention.

Habitat

The distribution of ''O. pallens'' is widespread in Europe, stretching from northern Spain, heading east across central Europe and the Balkans, to the Middle East and the Caucasus region in the east.
It is found in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France and Corsica), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. It is missing in the British Isles and Scandinavia.
The northern limit of its distribution in Germany and Poland, mainly southern Poland.''Orchis pallens'' is found from the lowlands to the mountains, including most of the significant mountain ranges in Europe. It can be found within a very wide altitudinal range, of between 1,000 to 2,500 m above sea level.

It grows in damp meadows, open meadows, on shrubland, in clearings, in wetlands , rocky areas , and in forests, either deciduous or coniferous. Including pine forests, beech forests, mixed hornbeam-linden or oak-hornbeam forests. It avoids deep shaded woodland.

It is found on calcareous soils, , and on unfertilized slightly moist and rather alkaline meadows.Even though the plant does not produce nectar, the flowers are pollinated by bees, who mistakenly land on the plant when looking for the ''spring pea'' which does produce nectar.

Cultural

It was named Orchid of the Year in 2012 by the 'Arbeitskreis Heimische Orchideen' , a German orchid conservation federation.