Traunsteinera, the round headed orchid, or globe orchid, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.
Traunsteinera species are terrestrial, perennial plants (geophytes), which overwinter with two ovate root nodules.
They are slender, up to 60 cm high plants. The flower stem has no leaf rosette but scattered stem leaves.
The inflorescence is very dense, with dozens of small flowers in an initially cone-shaped, later spherical to spherical spike. The perianth petals are oval in shape, with a long spatulate spire, forming a helmet. The lip is three-lobed, with a thin, curved spur. The gynostemium is short and obtuse, the rostellum three-lobed.
The species is rare and occurs locally in the medium and high mountain ranges from the temperate regions of Europe to the Caucasus. Plants are found growing in neutral to calcareous, moist or dry soils in sunny places such as calcareous grasslands and alpine meadows. In medium and high mountain ranges from 1000-3000 m.
Traunsteinera globosa growing in habitat in Austria
Traunsteinera globosa near Meglisalp, Alpstein mountain range, Switzerland
Traunsteinera globosa growing in the West Tatra Mountains
Traunsteinera sphaerica growing in Karachayevsky District, Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia
Traunsteinera is named after the Austrian pharmacist and botanist Joseph Traunsteiner (1798–1850). The scientific name was published in 1842 by Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach.
There are two known species, native to Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus.[1][2][3]
Traunsteinera, the round headed orchid, or globe orchid, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.
