Orchis provincialis
| Provence orchis | |
|---|---|
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| Flower of Orchis provincialis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Genus: | Orchis |
| Species: | O. provincialis |
| Binomial name | |
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Orchis provincialis Balb. ex Lam. & DC. |
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| Synonyms | |
Orchis provincialis, the Provence orchid, is a species of orchid in the genus Orchis.
Orchis provincialis is a herbaceous plant 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 in) high. The 4-5 basal leaves are oblong-lanceolate, with a length of about 8 cm and arranged in a rosette, the color is green with purplish brown spots. The cauline leaves are sheathing the stem, with yellowish lanceolate bracts. The inflorescence comprises 5 to 30 small flowers. Their color varies from creamy white or pale yellow to various shades of pink and purple in some varieties. The lateral sepals are ovate and erect, the median sepal is slightly leaning forward. The labellum is trilobed, with small spots from orange to purple on the median lobe. The white spur is cylindrical and curved upward, longer than the ovary. The gynostegium is short, obtuse, with pale yellow pollen. This orchid blooms from March to June.
The species has a Mediterranean distribution and it is widespread from northwestern Africa, south-central and southern Europe to the Caucasus.
Orchis provincialis prefers slightly acidic soils of grassland, scrub and woodland, at an altitude of 0–1,750 metres (0–5,741 ft) above sea level.
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