| Botanical Name | Orchis mascula L. | Origin | Iran |
| Family & Genus | Orchidaceae, Orchis genus | Parts of Plant | Tuber |
| Agriculture | Conventional | Manufacturing Method | Direct collection |
| Appearance | ovoid‑ellipsoid‑fusiform, 15‑35 mm. Dark‑brown to black‑brown heavily wrinkled surface. Cross‑section waxy‑keratinous, pale yellowish‑tan, firm texture. | Odour | nearly non‑volatile aroma; faint starchy‑cereal no |
| Specific Components | Polysaccharides: Glucomannan (mucilage,30‑48 %), starch 2.7‑22 %, sugar ~1 %, nitrogenous substances 5 % | ||
Salep
Orchis mascula, Early‑Purple Orchid, commercial name Salep. Terrestrial perennial orchid of Orchidaceae. Produces a pair of underground fleshy tubers; young plump tuber is commercial raw material. Traditionally used across Middle‑East, Balkans and Turkey for popular hot beverages, Turkish dondurma ice‑cream and folk herbal remedies. Tubers are rich in glucomannan with strong gelling‑thickening property. Commercial salep often blended with other related orchid species.
