Syn.: Androrchis provincialis (Balb. ex Lam. et DC.) D.Tyteca et E. Klein, Orchis pallens subsp. provincialis (Balb. ex DC.) Bonnier et Layens, Orchis leucostachys Griseb., Orchis cyrilli Ten.
Family: Orchidaceae Juss.
Distribution: Mediterranean species, the northern boundary of the area of distribution runs through southern France, northern Italy, Istria, northern Greece, appears also in the Crimea.
Ecology: It grows in forest clearings and margins, in macchia, from the coast up to 1700 m altitude. It blooms from April to May.
Description: Perennial herb with subglobose or ovoid tubers. Stem 15–30(–40) cm tall, erect, with 3–8 leaves. Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 13 cm long and 1,5 cm wide, usually with dark spots. Spike cylindrical, 4–8 cm long, with 5–15 flowers; bracts lanceolate, 1-to 3-veined, at least as long as ovary. Flowers pale yellow with deep yellow labellum; outer perianth-segments 9–11 mm, ovate-oblong, obtuse, the 2 lateral deflexed, the median erect, inner smaller, obliquely oblong. Labellum suborbicular, 3-lobed, 8–12 × 8–12 mm, lateral lobes rounded, middle lobe small, orbicular-truncate, scarcely longer than the lateral. Spur cylindrical, patent. Fruit is a capsule.
Threat and protection: Protected species in Spain, Ukraine and Russia, it is included also in the Berne Convention and CITES.
These images were taken in Italy, Gargano, Valle Pezzente (April 20, 2008).
