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A stout, thick-stemmed, sombre orchid. With the Green-Winged Ochid, this is one of the earlest blooming in the Mediterrenean region. The stem often has a reddish-brown or purple tint, but largely hidden by the large clasping leaves.
Flowers.
Feb-Apr.
Size.
50 cm (medium)
Flower Blossom.
Borne in a dense cylindrical spike. The fragrence similar to an iris. The sepals are a spreading redish-violet. The petals have an underlying greenish tint, and are (usually) spotted with bright pink or purple, forming a helmet.
The lip is violet-pink, sometimes with a greenish tint, about 15-20 mm long; spotted with with a purple center. There are two short arms, and a central lobe divided at the end into two short legs. A short 4-6 mm spur is downturned.
Leaves.
Plain green leaves are quite large, bluntly pointed. The upper leaves clasp the stem rather bract-like.
Bracts.
Lanceolate, longer than the flowers and suffused with a redish-brown or violet color.
Habitat.
Garrigue, maquis, open woodland, grassy places and roadsides. Our photos were taken in March at about 800m, north of Grasse, and they grow randomly in our grass at Grasse.
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Photo gallery of 6 photos for Orchid
