Orchis tridentata - Toothed orchid - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is similar to both Orchis lactea and Orchis conica with which it can easily be confused. The sepals in Orchis tridentata give it away - they have distinctive, sharp points.

Toothed orchid

This orchid likes full sun or mid-shade conditions and will grow in open grassland, phrygana (garrigue) and open woodland or even in quite dense thickets. It flowers from March until the end of April and can be found in the Iberian Peninsula and eastwards towards Turkey and the Middle East. Although absent from most of the Greek islands, the Toothed Orchid can be found in Crete.

Close-up picture of the flower of Orchis tridentata

The plants shown on this page were photographed on the northern coast of Crete in early April.