Orchis sitiaca/Orchis anatolica ssp. sitiaca - (Orchidaceae)

Taxonomy

Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Orchidales

Family: Orchidaceae

This orchid is endemic to the mountains of Crete and is both rare and localised.

In appearance, Orchis sitiaca is very similar to Orchis Anatolica and Orchis quadripunctata, and molecular studies confirm their close relationship. Identification based on the appearance (morphology) of Orchis Anatolica and Orchis sitiaca is very tricky indeed - our observation was that, of the two, Orchis sitiaca is a more robust looking plant with somewhat larger flowers. The basal leaves are more erect, and on some plants, marked with darker green spots - see below. The difference in the appearance of the flowers is more pronounced with longer sepals and a significantly longer lip which is ' folded back' making it appear much narrower when viewed from the front.

The basal rosette of spotted leaves of Orchis sitiaca

This orchid has more-erect basal leaves sometimes marked with a darker, silvery green colour.

Orchis sitiaca grows up to 40cm in height.m It flowers from the end of February through to the beginning of April.

Closeup of the flowers of Orchis sitiaca

The lip of the flower of Orchis sitiaca is sharply longitudinally folded back making it appear narrower from the front.

The pictures on this page were taken in Crete in mid April, at Spili.