Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. - Orchidaceae - lizard orchid, **Bocks-Riemenzunge**

Orchid, 30-80 cm high; leaves oblong-ovate to lanceolate; inflorescence up to 30cm tall, cylindric, many-flowered; flower odor described as being reminescent of goat. \\
[[https://www.infoflora.ch/de/flora/3211-himantoglossum-hircinum.html]]

"It is usually rare but can sometimes be found in great numbers in suitable habitats. This orchid grows in dry meadows, rocky areas, and open woods. It may reach a height of 133 centimetres (52 in)." [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himantoglossum_hircinum]]

| {{:e3me4decenoicacid.png| (E)-3-methyl-4-decenoic acid}} \\ (E)-3-methyl-4-decenoic acid | {{:z4decenoicacid.png| (Z)-4-decenoic acid}} \\ (Z)-4-decenoic acid | {{:lauricacid.png| lauric acid}} \\ lauric acid |

Headspace analysis showed that the curious flower scent (reminding of goat, hot iron, linnen) is mainly attributable to the combination of (E)-3-methyl-4-decenoic acid (24.0%), (Z)-4-decenoic acid (34.0%) and lauric acid (12.0%), accompanied by (E)-ocimene (12.0%) and traces of p-cresol, eugenol and vanillin. \\
(Actual, the compounds responsible for the scent of goats are 4-methyloctanoic acid and 4-ethyloctanoic acid). \\
[Roman Kaiser, The scent of orchids: olfactory and chemical investigations., Basel 1993, 179-181 and 226] 

"The smell of the flowers is unmistakable. Some people say the smell is of male goats and in languages other than English the common name is (billy-)goat orchid. The strong smell may be an adaptation to attract  flies or night-flying insects." \\
[Carey, P. D., and L. Farrell. "Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Sprengel." Journal of Ecology 90.1 (2002): 206-218] [[https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.00640.x]]

{{:himantoglossum_hircinum.jpg?600}} \\
Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Sprengel; J.B. Barla, Flore illustré de Nice et des Alpes-maritimes. Iconographie des Orchidées, t.24 (1868) \\
[[http://botanicalillustrations.org/species.php?id_species=531952]]

{{img_2763k.jpg?600}} \\
Himantoglossum hircinum, near Jena, Germany (2019) \\
Author: Andreas Kraska [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/|CC BY-SA 3.0]]