Malaxis
monophyllos, sääskenvalkku
Malaxis is truly unshowy plant. It has one or rarely two leaves at the
base of the plant. The inflorescense is 5-25 cm (2-10") heigh and there
are numerous tiny flowers. This is perhaps the smallest orchid in Finland
when we think the size of a flower. The inflorescense is guite "airy" and
therefore hard to find. But in extreme
close look a single flower is beautyful. This species is relative of many
tropical orchids, which can be seen, as it has a pseudobulb.
The growing-sites are usually wet, dark Alnus-bogs or similar places. The most noteable exception is Lappeenranta city, where this species grows in dry Pine-wood. Apparently the place is not as dry as it seems, and there is lot of lime in this area. Malaxis is very rare plant. In Europe it is becoming increasingly rare as its habitats are dried. Fortunately we still have this species in many places in Finland, the few places it grows in Helsinki, our capital, are well worth mentioning .
Malaxis is protected in whole country, including Ahvenanmaa.
