Orchis quadripunctata - Four-spotted Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

The scientific and common names of this orchid refer to the fact that there are usually four (or more or fewer!) red spots on the lip of the flower.

The plant grow can grow up to 40cm in height and the flowers can be either pink-purple or white. It grows in both full sun and lightly shaded habitats, most often on chalk substrate grassland, garrigue or open woodland, and it blooms from March to April. As can be seen in the picture above it can form large groups creating big, pink splotches in the landscape.

Close up of the Four-spotted Orchid

The Four-spotted Orchid can be found in Crete, Italy and the central and eastern Mediterranean region; the specimens shown on this page were photographed in the Gargano Peninsula area of Italy and we have also seen and photographed them in Crete.