ORCHIS PRISCA
Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE
Common Names:- Forgotten orchid
Homotypic Synonyms:- Orchis spitzelii subsp. nitidifolia.
Meaning:- Orchis (Gr) Testicle, (the shape of the root-tubers).
Prisca (L) Ancient, old-fashioned, or forgotten.
Stem:-
1) 20-40 cm, erect or slightly flexuous, often purplish, sheathed above.
Leaves:-
1) Basal, 2-4(-5), in an indistinct rosette, oblanceolate, somewhat canaliculate,
acute, shiny green.
2) Cauline, sheathing the upper part of the stem.
Flowers:-
1) Spike, shortly cylindrical, rather lax, with 7-16 flowers. Flowers ± uniformly
pink but central part of labellum paler with purple dots.
2) Sepals;
a) lateral, ovate, obtuse, patent.
b) inner, convergent with the petals to form a hood.
3) Labellum, 10-14 mm, obovate in outline, rather deeply 3-lobed;
a) lateral lobes, obliquely ovate.
b) middle lobes, obovate, emarginate.
4) Spur, conical-cylindrical, shorter than the labellum.
Key features:-
1) Basal leaves, acutely, ± folded.
2) Spike, usually short and few-flowered.
3) Labellum, deeply divided.
4) Spur,.slender, downward-pointing.
Habitat:- Open coniferous woodland and montane meadows on rocky slopes. (600-
)900-1500 m. Fl. Apr to late May.
Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Rare, known from a few scattered locations at
Thripti, the Samaria gorge and above Kamares on Psiloritis.
Flowering time:- Apr to late May.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
Status:-
Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable according to the Red
Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995).
Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
