Gennaria diphylla - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is both localised and rare - or is it just very difficult to spot? It is, after all, entirely greenish-yellowand blends in rather well with surrounding plants. Its scientific name diphylla means 'two leaves' - they are usually to be found part way up the stem, although in the examples below there are several pairs, some close to the base of the plants.

Gennaria diphylla is most commonly found in the central and western Mediterranean regions and becomes more scarce towards the east. It is also present on Madieira and on some of the Canary Islands.

The rare and localised Mediterranean species of orchid, Gennaria diphylla

Photograph by kind permission of John and Jill Elson

 

The flowers are tiny and also greenish yellow. Each spike can carry up to 45 of these tiny bell-shaped flowers, which appear in the very early spring - from January through to the end of April at the latest.

This orchid can be found on acid substrates but can tolerate a degree of alkalinity. They grow in pine woodlands, under laurel, in the maquis and garrigue; they can sometimes be seen growing in between rocks.

The flowers on this page were found on a bank close to Barragem da Bravura in the Algarve region of Portugal.