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Orchis morio
The inflorescence is of various colours, mainly purple but ranging from white, through pink, to deep purple. From 5 to 25 helmet-shaped flowers grow in a loose, linear bunch at the top of the single stalk. A pair of lateral sepals with prominent green, occasionally purple veins extend laterally like "wings", giving the orchid its name. The broad, three lobed, lower petal is pale in the center with dark spots. Leaves are lanceolate, or sometimes ovate, and grow in a rosette around the base of the plan, with some thinner leaves clasping the stem and sheathing almost up to the flowers. Leaves are green and unspotted.
This plant is found in mountain meadow, on limestone rich soil and acid grassland exposed to sunlight.
The name morio is derived from the Greek word "moros" meanimng "fool". In The Red Book of Croatian vascular flora is in the category NT - almost an endangered species, primarily because of threats to habitats where habitat.
Spotted on Apr 30, 2013
Submitted on May 3, 2013
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