orchis
(ˈɔːkɪs)
[a. L. orchis (Pliny), the plant, a. Gr. ὄρχις testicle, also the plant orchis (so called from the shape of the tubers in most species: cf. ballocks, dogstones). For the pl. orchises, orchids is often substituted.]
The typical genus of Orchidaceæ or Orchids, comprising terrestrial herbs of temperate regions, with tuberous root (having usually two tubers), and erect fleshy stem bearing a spike of flowers, usually purple or red, with spurred lip; any plant of this genus, or (popularly) of several other genera having similar characters.
| 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 152 There are diuers kindes of orchis..y⊇ other kindes ar in other countrees called fox stones or hear stones, and they may after y⊇ Greke be called dog⁓stones. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. vi. §4. 57 All your orchisses that they have given names unto from some beasts or other as cynosorchis [etc.]. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v., In the Culture of the Orchis the Gardener must give it a moist Earth and a Northern Exposition. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lxxxiii, Bring orchis, bring the foxglove spire, The little speedwell's darling blue. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh i. 1085 Such nooks of valleys, lined with orchises. |
| attrib. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Orchis root, in the materia medica, is otherwise named salep. 1807 J. E. Smith Phys. Bot. 272 In the Orchis family..the pollen is of a glutinous nature. |
b. With defining word (sometimes denoting an insect, or other animal, or thing, to which the flower bears some resemblance, actual or fancied): as
bee o., bird's-nest o., butterfly o., cuckoo o., finger o., fly o., frog o., green-man, or
green, hand o., lizard o., Medusa's-head o., monkey o., rein o., spider o.,
q.v. Also
bog o.,
Malaxis paludosa;
crane-fly o.,
Tipularia discolor of N. America;
dwarf o.,
O. ustulata, also the genus
Spiranthes;
female o., an old name for
O. Morio;
fen o.,
Liparis Lœselii;
fringed o., several N. American species of
Habenaria with fringed lip;
male, man o., old name of
O. mascula;
musk o.,
Herminium Monorchis;
sweet o.,
Spiranthes; etc.
| 1785 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxvii. (1794) 416 Two very common species..are the *broad-leaved and spotted Orchis, generally found in moist meadows. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. cxiii. (1633) 212 *Butter fly Orchis or Satyrion. |
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. lix. 225 The floures..speckled with smal speckes of a deeper purple, like to *Cuckow Orchis, or fooles ballockes. |
| Ibid. lvi. 222 The fifth kinde is called..sauerie Standel⁓wurte, or sweete Ballocke, and *Dwarffe Orchis. |
| Ibid. 219 The second kinde of Orchios..is of twoo sortes *Male and *Female. 1785 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxvii. (1794) 414 Two of the most common sorts with double bulbs, are called Male and Female Orchis foolishly, because there is no distinction of sexes. |
| 1884 Miller Plant-n., Orchis, Great *Fringed,..Purple Fringed, Habenaria fimbriata,..Ragged Fringed, Habenaria lacera. |
| a 1824 Holdich Ess. Weeds Agric. (1825) 65 *Man-orchis, Red-lead, and Frogwort, are the only English names we have heard given to these weeds in damp pastures. |
| 1866 Treas. Bot. 585 The *Musk Orchis..is occasionally found in southern and eastern England. |
| 1785 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxvii. (1794) 413 *Pyramidal Orchis, found in pastures where the soil is chalky. |
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. lvi. 222 The *sweete Orchis, or Ladie traces are moste commonly to be found..vpon hilles and Downes. |