Syn.: Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. subsp. adriaticum (H. Baumann) Sundermann
Family: Orchidaceae Juss.
Distribution: Panonic and Submediterranean species – Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Moravia.
Ecology: It grows in dry grasslands, in shrubs and woodland margins, on limestone soils, from lowlands to foothills.
Description: A perennial herb with an erect stem, 30–80 cm high. The leaves are lanceolate, entire, up to 15 cm long. The erect terminal inflorescence has 15–45 flowers, the flowers are quite attractive, green white with reddish brown markings, to 5 cm long, sepals and petals forming a hood, the lip is 3-lobed, mid-lobe is divided into two at the top. Flowers from June to July. The fruit is a capsule.
Threat and Protection: The Adriatic Lizard Orchid is a protected plant in some countries (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary etc.), simultaneously is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
These images were taken in Czechia, Moravia, Ketkovice (July 6, 2006) and Slovakia, Malé Karpaty (June 1, 2008).
