Orchis champagneuxii - Champagne Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Orchis champagneuxii - Champagne Orchid

This member of the Anacamptis morio (Green-winged Orchid) group of orchids occurs in the western Mediterranean region, where it is most common in the Iberian Peninsula. At first glance it is very similar to the Green-winged Orchid and has the same green-veined 'hood' formed by the upper sepals, but on closer inspection there are several important differences. Overall, the plant is rather spindly in appearance, and the flower head is lax and with fewer individual flowers than are usually found on Green-winged orchid specimens. It is, however, the lip that is most obviously different: it is longitudinally folded; and, although flushed with pink-purple on the outside, the centre is completely white overall with hardly any discernible markings.

This specimen was photographed in the Algarve in Portugal in April.