About Orchis provincialis Balb. ex Lam. & DC.
Orchis provincialis Balb. ex Lam. & DC. is a herbaceous orchid that grows 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 in) tall. It produces 4 to 5 oblong-lanceolate basal leaves, arranged in a rosette, that reach approximately 8 cm in length. These leaves are green with purplish brown spots. Cauline leaves sheath the stem, and the plant bears yellowish, lanceolate bracts. Its inflorescence holds 5 to 30 small flowers. Flower color varies by variety, ranging from creamy white or pale yellow to different shades of pink and purple. The lateral sepals are ovate and erect, while the median sepal leans slightly forward. The labellum is trilobed, with small orange to purple spots on the median lobe. The white spur is cylindrical, curved upward, and longer than the ovary. The gynostegium is short and obtuse, and holds pale yellow pollen. This species blooms from March to June.
Orchis provincialis has a Mediterranean distribution, and is widespread from north-western Africa, through south-central and southern Europe, to the Caucasus. It is native to Albania, Bulgaria, Corse, the East Aegean Islands, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Krym, North Caucasus, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Turkey, and Yugoslavia.
This orchid grows in slightly acidic soils in grassland, scrub, and woodland, at altitudes between 0 and 1,750 metres (0–5,741 ft) above sea level.
