Orchis simia

Monkey orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Monocots
Order:Asparagales
Family:Orchidaceae
Subfamily:Orchidoideae
Genus:Orchis
Species: O. simia
Binomial name
Orchis simia
Lam. , 1779

Orchis simia, commonly known as the monkey orchid, is a greyish pink to reddish species of the genus Orchis. It gets its common name from its lobed lip which mimics the general shape of a monkey's body.[1]

The range of the species is central and southern Europe, including southern England, the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor, Caucasus, northern Iraq, Iran to Turkmenistan and northern Africa[2][3] where it occurs in grassland, garrigue, scrub and open woodland, chiefly on limestone soils. It is absent from the Balearic Islands, Corsica and Sardinia.[4] On Cyprus the species can be categorized as threatened,[2] and it became a protected species in the UK in 1975 under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Foley, M.; Clarke, S. (2005). Orchids of the British Isles. Griffin Press for Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. p. 158. ISBN 0954191617.
  2. 1 2 Kreutz, C.A.J. (2004). The orchids of Cyprus. Kreutz. p. 353. ISBN 9080662631.
  3. ↑ Pridgeon, Alex (1992). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Timber Press. p. 208. ISBN 0-88192-267-6.
  4. ↑ Blamey, M; Grey-Wilson, C. (2005). Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. domino Books Ltd. p. 512. ISBN 0713670150.
  5. ↑ http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/1975/october/conservation.htm


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