Orchis italica - Naked Man Orchid, Italian Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

This lovely orchid which flowers in April in the Mediterranean can form dense groups of bright pink flowers.

A group of Orchis italica

Orchis italica - Naked Man Orchid

This pretty orchid has flowers borne in a dense spike which vary from pale to dark pink. They sometimes have darker spots on the lip and the hood has dark pink veins.

The Naked Man Orchid (which on close inspection resembles just that!) can grow up to 50 cm in height and is widespread throughout the Mediterranean often forming dense colonies.

The specimen above was photographed in Portugal on the Algarve in mid March. We have also see this orchid in Crete and the Gargano Peninsula in Italy.