John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe

Home	The genus GYMNADENIA

The species G.borealis            G.conopsea            C.densiflora	Origin:  from the Greek;  gymn - naked,    aden - gland, referring to the lack of protection for the pollinia (bursicle).
	A genus confined to Europe and Asia, closely related to Plantanthera and Dactylorhiza.  The recent inclusion of Nigritella in this genus means a total of about 22 species of which only three very similar are to be found in the British Isles G.conopsea, G.borealis  and G.densiflora