Serapias orientalis (Greuter) H. Baumann & Künkele 1968 Photo courtesy of F.Verhart and the Orchids of France and Europe

S vomeracea Group

Common Name The Eastern Serapias

Flower Size 1.6" [4 cm]

Found in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan on dry to damp mostly alkaline substrates in short poor grasslands, damp meadows and olive groves at elevations up to 1000 meters as a miniature to small sized, cool growing terrestrial orchid with a purple streaked stem carrying 4 to 8, lanceolate, channelled-keeled, arched, spreading to erect leaves with the uppermost being smaller and near clasping that blooms on an erect, terminal, 2 to 6" [5 to 15 cm] long, laxly few [3 t o8] flowered inflorescence, that has large bracts that almost cover the flower which occur in the spring.

Synonyms Serapias carica (H.Baumann & Künkele) P.Delforge 1994; Serapias carica var. monantha P.Delforge 1999; Serapias cordigera subsp. orientalis (Greuter) H.Sund. 1980; Serapias cycladum H.Baumann & Künkele 1989; Serapias feldwegiana H.Baumann & Künkele 1989; Serapias ionica (E.Nelson) H.Baumann & Künkele 1988; Serapias neglecta var. ionica E.Nelson 1968; Serapias orientalis subsp. carica H.Baumann & Künkele 1989; Serapias orientalis var. cordigeroides E.Nelson 1968 ; *Serapias vomeracea subsp. orientalis Greuter 1972; Serapias patmia M.Hirth & H.Spaeth 1994

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

Serapias orientalis subsp. siciliensis Bartolo & Pulvirenti 1968 Photo courtesy of F.Verhart and the Orchids of France and Europe

Common Name The Sicilian Serpias

Flower Size 1.6" [4 cm]

Found in Sicily as a small sized, cool growing terrestrial orchid on terreaces, in olive groves and woodlands at elevations up to 1100 meters with a purple streaked stem carrying 4 to 8, lanceolate, channelled-keeled, arched, spreading to erect leaves with the uppermost being smaller and near clasping that blooms on an erect, terminal, laxly few to several [3 to 8] flowered inflorescence, that has large bracts that almost cover the flower which occur in the spring.

Synonyms Serapias orientalis var. siciliensis (Bartolo & Pulv.) P.Delforge 2000

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

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