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Himantoglossum hircinum - Lizard orchid
Tall flower spike between 10 - 40 cm high with 20 - 120 flowers; perianth segments
curve to form a hood. Flowers pale green with reddish-purple blobs and streaks.
The lip is 3 lobed and the central lobe is very long, coiled up when young
and later twisted. Flowers from April to June.
This orchid is found from western to central Mediterranean regions and northwards
to central Europe, however only one population is known of in the whole of the
Comunidad Valenciana, and it is therefore considered rare and endangered. In
"Orchideas sylvestre" it is suggested that
this is due to the reforestation of its habitats by machinery and being trampled
on by sheep.
(Editors- note:
A more likely explanation
is that this is a "relict population" i.e. that in the past when the climate
was cooler and wetter and the Lizard orchid was widely distributed
in this area. As the climate has become drier and warmer local populations have
died out, leaving very few surviving in small areas where conditions are especially
suitable. Indeed a recent study by Matarredona
Coll shows that today there is
a particularly humid zone between Pego and Tarbena. This is close to the
Lizard orchid population. We note that in 2004 we counted some 50 plants. In
2006 only 3 - Chris Betterton-Jones 2006)