A genus of fragrant wild orchids found in meadows and grasslands across Europe and Asia, commonly called fragrant orchids.
From New Latin, combining Greek gymnos meaning 'naked' with aden meaning 'gland,' referring to the exposed glands of the flower. Named and classified in the 19th century.
Gymnadenia orchids are so fragrant that their smell actually attracts moths from far away—it's basically a flower using perfume as a delivery service for pollination, an evolutionary strategy that's surprisingly sophisticated.
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