Anacamptis sancta - Holy Orchid
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Liliopsida - Order: Orchidales - Family: Orchidaceae
Anacamptis sancta is extremely rare and localised within its range.
Description
The Holy orchid flowers are reminiscent of those of the Bug Orchid Anacamptis coriophora, but they are much larger and more variable in colour. The lip of the flower is unspotted, and by the time the flowers open the basal leaves of the plant have died back almost completely.
The colour of the flowers of Anacamptis sancta varies from pink to red.
Distribution
This rare orchid is an eastern Mediterranean species and is found in the Aegean Islands, Turkey and Cyprus.
Habitat
The Holy Orchid favours dry and stony ground.
Flowering times
This orchid flowers in April and May.
Although inclined to grow in isolation this species sometimes hybridises with Anacamptis coriophora resulting in large hybrid swarms.
The photograph shown on this page was taken in Lesvos.
Etymology
The genus name Anacamptis comes from the Greek anakampto, meaning 'bent back'; it refers to the shape of the flower spur. The specific epithet sancta comes from Latin and means 'sacred'.
Reference sources
The Plant List
Hans and Gisela Kretzschmar and Wolfgang Eccarius 2004 Orchids Crete and Dodacanese, Mediterraneo Editions
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black
Acknowledgements
This page includes a picture kindly contributed by Ray Tipper.
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