Orchis italica - The naked man orchid
Orchis italica, the naked man orchid or the Italian orchid, is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean Basin. It gets its common name from the lobed lip (labellum) of each flower which mimics the general shape of a naked man. In Italy, it is believed that the consumption of the plant is conducive to virility. It prefers partial shade and low nutrient soil, and flowers in April. Orchis italica grows up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in height, with bright pink, densely clustered flowers.
Orchis italica Spain - Mallorca
Distribution
Orchis italica is commonly found in large clusters in the Mediterranean region. It is native to southwestern Europe (Balearic Islands, Portugal, Sardinia, and Spain), southeastern Europe (Albania, Greece, Italy, Crete, Sicily, and countries of the former Yugoslavia), western Asia (Cyprus, the East Aegean Islands, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestinian Territories and Turkey), and northern Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia).
References
Gallery
Orchis italica Spain - Mallorca.
Author: Orchi.
Created: April 12, 2012.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica (left) and Aceras anthropophorum Greece (right)- Crete Gerakari.
Author: Hans Stieglitz.
Created: April 8, 2009.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica in the Natural Park of Serra de Enciña de Lastra, Orense, Galicia, Spain.
Author: Fernando Losada Rodríguez.
Created: April 26, 2008.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica in Miradouro do Norte in Parque Natural da Arrábida by Setubal, Portugal.
Author: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz.
Created: March 21, 2023.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Italian Orchid near Son Serra, Mallorca, Spain (location within 3 km).
Author: © Hans Hillewaert.
Created: April 16, 2009.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica at Kritou Terra, Cyprus, 2004..
Author: Havang(nl).
Created: August 8, 2008.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica Portugal.
Author: Lumbar~commonswiki.
Created: January 8, 2005.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Orchis italica Poiret Reino Plantae Filo Magnoliophyta Classe Liliopsida Ordem Asparagales Família Orchidaceae Género Orchis Nome Comum erva-dos-macaquinhos-dependurados, flor-dos-macaquinhos, flor-dos-rapazinhos Sinonimias Orchis longicruris.
Author: Luis nunes alberto.
Created: April 5, 2012.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.