Serapias lingua - Tongue Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Arguably the most attractive of the rather curious-looking species of Tongue Orchids, probably due to its attractive pink colouration, Serapias lingua occurs throughout much of Europe in both Atlantic and Mediterranean countries.

Serapias lingua - Tongue Orchid

The plants can grow up to 50cm in height and each stem normally carries around 6 flowers. At first, the various types of tongue orchids, often found growing alongside each other, are quite difficult to tell apart, but Serapias lingua is characterised by a dark red spot in the 'throat' of the flower.

A closeup picture of Serapias lingua

Serapias lingua tolerates a number of habitats and can be found in short grassy places, the garrigue and scrub. It also occurs in damp, marshy meadows and fields.

A monstrous form of Serapias lingua

Occasionally monstrous forms of tongue orchids can appear - this one, found in Crete, had a double lip.

The specimens above were photographed in the Gargano Peninsula area of Italy (top) and in the Lot Valley in France (bottom). Both pictures were taken in April. Although both these locations are predominantly limestone, Tongue Orchids can also appear in slightly more acidic habitats, including open woodland. We have also seen and photographed this orchid in the Algarve region of Portugal.

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