Orchis belongs to the family of orchids called ‘Orchidaceae’. The plant derives its name from the Greek word ‘orchis’ which means ‘testicles’ referring to the shape of the tuberoids that grow underground. Quite unlike the other plants of the orchid family, which have pseudo bulbs, orchis is found to have tuberous roots.

The flowers which blossom in summer appear from the base of the inflorescence and gradually grow up to the tapering end. The inflorescence looks like a cylinder and sometimes like a globe. The flowers are of yellow, red and purple colour and in most of the varieties, orchis is found to be odourless, while a few of them may contain a mild fragrance.

This perennial plant is believed to have more than 1300 species. Orchis is found extensively in Africa and Europe, and it stretches as far as Mongolia, China, Tibet and Japan.

Orchis flowers are mainly noted for their showy appearance and are mostly seen in the gardens, as flower beds and are also used for landscaping. The tuberous roots have a starch-like substance, which is rich in nutrients and are processed to make a beverage called ‘salep’.