Neotinea tridentata - Toothed orchid

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Liliopsida - Order: Orchidales - Family: Orchidaceae

Description

This orchid is similar to both Neotinea lactea and Neotinea conica with which it can easily be confused. Neotinea tridentata, formerly known as Orchis tridentata, is a small but robust-looking plant which grows to around 25cm tall. It has 3-8 near-erect basal leaves with a further few (around 3) smaller leaves clasping the upper part of the stem. The inflorescence is dense and the number of flowers is variable from very few to around 30. The upper sepals and petals are white and have green veining. They form a hood above the lip of the flower. The lip is pale and covered with small red dots. It is deeply lobed and the edges are ragged or 'toothed'.

Distribution

The range of this orchid is uncertain due to confusion with other the closely related subspecies mentioned above, particularly with N. conica in the western part of the Mediterranean. It is found in Crete and other Aegean islands, Greece, Bulgaria and italy among other southern and central European countries.

Habitat

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.

Flowering times

It flowers from March until the end of April.

Etymology

The genus name Neotinea honours the Sicilian botanist Vincenzo Tineo (1791 - 1856) , while the specific epithet tridentata means 'with three teeth'.

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

Reference sources

The Plant List

Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of the Algarve - where, when and how to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)

Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black

Fielding, Turland and Mathew (2005) Flowers of Crete; Kew