Orchis conica Willd.

Spice Flower detail In the field Inflorescence

Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Genus: Orchis

Sinònims: Orchis tridentata Scop. subsp. lactea (Poiret) Rouy.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West 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. Garriques and dry soils.

Characteristics: This is the first species of the Orchis genus which flowers during the year, sometimes during the month of February. We will find it in clearings in pinewoods and garrigues (Mediterranean woodland), in the same environments and coexisting with several species of Ophrys and Serapias. It develops a compact inflorescence of white flowers but with a purple stained labellum. This labellum is deeply divided into three lobules. Without being very abundant it is found with relatively ease in Mallorca and Menorca.