Serapias parviflora Parl.

Spice Flowers Fruits In the field

Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Genus: Serapias

Catalan common name: Gallets.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitat: Pine woods, garriques and terophytic communities.

Characteristics: This could be one of the more common species of orchids to be found in the islands, but the one that attracts the least attention. Has a spicule with few flowers, all directed upwards. These flowers are characterized by their small labellum that normally remains attached to the ovary, as if was directed in the opposite direction. Has transition forms with Serapias lingua, a species that lives in the same habitat and of which it has hybridized; the latter has a much longer, downwardly directed labellum. Flowers in spring, April, May.