Serapias apulica/Serapias orientalis ssp. apulica - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is very similar to Serapias orientalis but is endemic to Puglia in Italy, where it occurs along the coast and on Monte Gargano. Identification can be tricky as Serapias vomeracea and Serapias cordigera both occur in the same places, and some populations of tongue orchids to be found in the region appear, most confusingly, to have characteristics from both species. Pierre Delforge, in his Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, places both Serapias orientalis and Serapias apulica, along with several other similar species, in the same group with Serapias vomeracea.

Serapias orientalis ssp. apulica

Serapias apulica - much shorter and more robust than Serapias vomeracea

Serapias apulica grows in short, poor grassland that is dry-to-slightly-moist, on alkaline substrates, garrigue and on abandoned farmland in open, sunny positions. It is fairly localised but can occur in large colonies. It is a much shorter and more robust plant than Serapias vomeracea, and has larger flowers packed together at the top of the infloresence. The flowers have a dense patch of whiteish hairs spreading down the lip from the base.

Serapias apulica flower close up

The flowers have dense white hairs on the lip

These orchids flower from early March until the end of April, and the plants on this page were photographed on Monte Gargano in the middle of April.