Serapias lingua L.

Spice Flower detail Flower General image

Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Genus: Serapias

Catalan common name: Galls.

Spanish common name: Gallos.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic silicolous fields. Pine woodlands and therophytic communities.

Characteristics: The Serapias genus is charaterised by having erect purple or violet flowers and a tongue-shaped central labellum. Serapias lingua has a rather wide, long central labellum which is shorter and less reflected Serapias parviflora, and does not have a heart-shaped base as in Serapias cordigera. Flowers from April until June.