Orchis provincialis - Provence Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

In most people's minds orchids are visualised in pink, and so yellow ones seem surprising and exotic - this lovely one is no exception. Orchis provincialis is pale lemon yellow with a brighter and deeper yellow patch on the lip. The flowers are also slightly scented. The basal leaves have dark markings.

A fine specimen of Orchis Provincialis

The Provence Orchid can be found on the Iberian Peninsula (in Spain but not, so far, recorded from Portugal) and eastwards as far as the Balkans and also in Bulgaria and Crete; it grows in open or bushy grassland and sometimes in sparse woodland, but it is rare and localised.

Often confused with Orchis pauciflora, this plant is taller and larger and carries many more flowers on each infloresence than does Orchis pauciflora which is comparatively stunted in its appearance and with far fewer, although often larger flowers. The flower-head of Orchis provincialis is longer and oblong-shaped whereas that of Orchis pauciflora is rather uneven and untidy-looking.

A closeup of Orchis Provincialis

A perfect oblong-shaped infloresence of Orchis provincialis

The plant grows up to 35cm in height and the large flowers have longitudinally-folded lips that are marked with fine, red spots. The Provence Orchid flowers from March to April.

The specimens shown on this page were photographed in Crete.