Orchis patens subsp. canariensis (Lindl.) Asch. & Graebn. 1907

Plant and Flowers in situ Photos courtesy of © Bill Temple

Common Name The Canary Islands Orchis

Flower Size .6 to 1" [1.5 to 2.5 cm]

Found in the Canary Islands usually in lava rubble in open woodlands, bushy ravines and on shady rock faces as a small to medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with a basal rosette of smetimes spreading, near erect, lanceolate, acuminate, shiney, unmarked leaves with a smaller, clasping cauline leaf that blooms in the winter and spring on an erect, 6 to 16" [15 to 40 cm] long, 5 to 20 flowered, slightly conical inflorescence with lanceolate, purplish, longer than the ovary floral bracts

Synonyms Androrchis canariensis (Lindl.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein 2008; Barlia canariensis (Lindl.) Szlach. 2001; Orchis canariensis Lindl.1835;; Orchis patens var. canariensis (Lindl.) Rchb.f. 1851

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 1 1986 photo; Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East Delforge 2005

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