Orchis ichnusae (Corrias) J. & P. Devillers-Terschuren 1991

Photo courtesy of P.Pernot and the Orchids of France and Europe

O mascula group

Common Name The Sardinian Orchis [Ichnusa is an ancient name for Sardinia]

Flower Size .8" [2 cm]

Found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia in short, poor grasslands, garrigue and scrub at elevations up to 1500 meters as a small sized, cool growing terrestrial orchid with a spindly, washed purplish-red apically stem carrying 3 to 6, basal, spreading in a rosette, near erect, unmarked, oval-lanceolate leaves with 1 to 3, smaller, clasping, cauline leaves above that blooms in the spring on a rather dense, ovoid then cylindrical, to 5" [12.5 cm] long, 10 to 20 flowered inflorescence and carrying fragrant flowers.

Synonyms Androrchis ichnusae (Corrias) D.Tyteca & E.Klein 2008; Orchis mascula Moris non L. ?; Orchis mascula subsp. ichnusae Corrias 1982; Orchis mascula subsp. laxifloriformis Rivas Goday 1946; Orchis mascula var. olivetorum Martelli 1896; Orchis oliensis subsp. ichnusae (Corrias) Buttler 1986

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East Delforge 2005

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