Orchis lactea - Milky Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

The common name of this orchid refers to the colour of the flowers, which are pale although the lip is covered all over with dark dots and streaks.

Milky Orchid

Picture by kind permission of Anne Horsfall

There is some debate about the extent of this orchid's range in the Mediterranean due to confusion with other similar orchids including Orchis conica in the west and Orchis tridentata in other parts of its range. It is a small plant, growing up to 25cm in height, but it has a very dense infloresence which is egg-shaped when the flowers are fully open. The Milky Orchid grows in open grassy places and meadows, where it blooms from the end of February to tbe beginning of April.

The picture on this page was taken in Crete.