About Orchis italica Poir.
Orchis italica Poir., commonly called the naked man orchid or the Italian orchid, is an orchid species native to the Mediterranean Basin. Its common name comes from the lobed lip (labellum) of each individual flower, which matches the general shape of a naked man wearing a hat. In Italy, there is a local belief that consuming this plant promotes virility. This orchid prefers partial shade and low-nutrient soil, and it blooms in April. It can grow up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) tall, and produces bright pink, densely clustered flowers. It is commonly found growing in large clusters across the Mediterranean region. Its native range covers southwestern Europe (including the Balearic Islands, Portugal, Sardinia, and Spain), southeastern Europe (including Albania, Greece, Italy, Crete, Sicily, and the countries of the former Yugoslavia), western Asia (including Cyprus, the East Aegean Islands, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Turkey), and northern Africa (including Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia).
