Family |
Orchidaceae
Anacamptis pyramidalis
(L.) Rich.
Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, Pl. CXII nº 6; 1966)
Life-form & habit : Tuberous perennial orchid with two ellipsoid- to oblong tubers. Erect, unbranched scape 20 – 70 cm high, sparingly leaved up to the inflorescence; whole plant glabrous.
Leaves : Lowest blades broadly linear-lanceolate, acute; upper leaves progressively smaller and sheathing.
Inflorescence : Dense, many-flowered spike 2.5 – 8 cm long, at first conical, later ovoid-oblong (2 – 4 cm wide). Bracts membranous, as long as the ovary.
Flowers : Rose- to purple-pink, held slightly erect.
Sepals free, obtuse to sub-acute: median sepal 4.5 – 5 mm, laterals 5 – 7 mm.
Petals 4 mm, free.
Labellum fan-shaped, flat, trilobed, 6 – 8 mm; inner surface minutely papillose; at its base two short, parallel, erect lamellae. Lateral lobes sub-quadrangular or sub-triangular; mid-lobe narrower, obtuse to sub-truncate, sometimes slightly notched.
Spur pendant, straight, filiform, about as long as the ovary.
Gynostemium pale pink.Flowering period : Late March – May.
Habitat & elevation : Open woods, grassy pastures and meadow clearings from the coastal hills to the mid-mountain belt.
Distribution (Lebanon–Syria) :
Lebanon – Saïda, Antélias, Nahr el-Kelb, Jounié, Qalmoun, Tripoli; Chemlan, ‘Aley, Khraibé (Maʿasser ech-Chouf), Baabda, Bikfaya, Ghazir, Qrayé, Terbol; upper mountain zone at Ehden.
Syria – Qadmous, Masyaf, Slenfé and Kessab.Native range : Throughout Europe, around the Mediterranean basin and into western Asia.