Edible orchids

[castanea]

Do we have anyone here who knows much about edible orchids?

What I'm primarily interested in are orchids with edible bulbs, such as those found in Orchis species, Dactylorhiza species, and Gastrodia.

[rowan]

In Australia all of our terrestrial orchids have edible bulbs. They are small but some are quite tasty.

[cesarz]

Hi,

I'm an orchid breeder and collector. What do you need to know?

Of course Vanilla is the most famous edible orchid while the Orchis ones are used to make salep (gelatin like) ice cream.

Cesar

[castanea]

I would like to know which orchid varieties have the best bulbs for eating, especiallly those that are cold hardy.

[atash]

Interesting topic. Might take some library research. Cesar is right; you're looking for the magic word "salep", found in old books, maybe 1920s and earlier.

I think there are more genera that were eaten than those already mentioned. I have seen the word mentioned in regards to many species.

The bad news, I think, is that I'm pretty sure it was wild harvested back when wild Orchids were a lot more common than they are now. People predating about 1950 or so remember Lady's Slippers (Cyprepediums) as being common woodland flowers in the Northwest. Much earlier, they used to be common in the eastern USA. For various reasons they do not take kindly to human activities (there are a few odd exceptions, including the Helleborine Orchids that are oddly fond of railway embankments and vacant lots). Some are still locally abundant, and there is one demure Orchid here in the northwest that is extremely abundant, being one of the most common flowers under deep coniferous shade--a trick it can do thanks to utilizing both photosynthesis and saprophytic roots.

It is possible to cultivate them, but takes some knowledge of their unusual ways of life. So, when the Orchids started getting rare, conservationists encouraged people to stop harvesting the salep. Hence only old books mention it.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was often reserved for the sick, especially children. The theory was, I think, that it was easy to digest.

I have a Dactylorhiza, an Epipactis, several Blettillas, several Calanthes, and some Pleones, all relatively easy ones. Most of the hardy ones have very strange lifestyles. This guy has been successful and has some good advice:

Growing Hardy Orchids

[castanea]

Thanks, Atash. Pricy book but I'm sure it's worth it.

I was doing some reading on salep and it looks like they are having diminished stocks even in Turkey.

[atash]

>>Thanks, Atash. Pricy book but I'm sure it's worth it.<<

It is if you're trying to grow any of the tricky ones. Has a long discussion of the issues of fungal associations, pH, preferred soil textures, mix recommendations, habitat construction, and so on.

I noticed a few other references on the same subject but do not have them so don't know what to think.

>>I was doing some reading on salep and it looks like they are having diminished stocks even in Turkey. <<

The fact that salep stocks lasted this long in Turkey is probably a testament to the relative toughness and adaptability of a few European and Mediterranean orchids. Dactylorhizas seem to be particularly tough. I've heard of them spontaneously showing up in people's gardens on their own. Unusual as orchids go. Some of them are quite attractive too, by the way. Can't wait to see mine bloom.

[cesarz]

Hiya,

I have fresh Dactylorhiza maculata seeds (Also known as Orchis maculata) if you want them, The genus orchis is readily available for sale in Australia in sterile flasks. I also have heaps (thousands) of the NZ grass orchid (Microtis uniflora) that produce tubers in my lawn.

I have heaps of dactylorhiza in my garden popping up so the seeds are viable.

I also have Disa orchids and the tubers have a heavy sweet vanilla scent and I am tempted to experiment if it is edible , according to this it is edible www.ionopsis.com/edible_orchids.htm.

I have never seen the NZ potato orchid which is edible. From www.edesignz.co.nz/hosted/MaraReo/TMR-Para.html "Of the orchids, the Gastrodia was the most important. It seems at certain times of the year to have been a regular part of the diet of the Tuhoe people in the Urewera." Check it out it was also talking about the genus Orthoceras.

[jim]

Glad to see another orchidist here Cesar.
Jim

[wingnut]

Calypso bulbosa are edible, and quite tasty. Both the bulb and flower can be eaten. They are quite rare in many places, so unless you own the land they are growing on I cannot recommend eating them.

[mayz]

Orchis mascula (not Dactylorrhiza maculata (syn Orchis maculata)) is the main species used to make salep. According me that's not a question of taste but that's linked to the relative abundance of this orchid.

O. mascula is fairly common in the calcareous Condroz in Belgium and perfectly hardy.

[Deleted]

The method for growing their seed looks comparable to tissue culture / micro propagation.

[Deleted]

BTW, does it get any more exotic than eating orchids. Cool topic.

[atash]

Wingnut, the local variety of Calypso bulbosa, namely var occidentalis, is relatively easy to grow compared to other forms. Reputedly the only one that is not too hard to grow.

I have a reference on growing wild temperate-climate orchids. Many of them are bog dwellers. One of them grows in bogs with a pH the same as vinegar.

Nothing too unusual about C. bulbosa other than being partially saprophytic. That's how it can grow in such shady spots, and bloom. It's a common trait among boreal orchids. My Pleones, Calanthes, and Bletillas, having tropical affinities (despite being hardy), don't do that.

[wingnut]

atash do you have transplanted or seed grown plants? They are not to difficult to grow as log as you give them protection from rodents (namely squirrels), and leave them alone. During their dormant period late June- till fall rains, they need DRY SUBSTRATE. Not sorta dryish, but completely dry.