Balkan Lizard Orchid

Description:

The name, Himantoglossum jankae, is given to the widely recognised lizard orchid species that is distributed primarily in the Balkan Peninsula and the northwestern region of Asia Minor and has been erroneously named H. caprinum in most previous literature. A robust herbaceous, tuberous perennial. Flowering stem to 1 m. with a lax cluster of flowers with very long, strap-shaped lips.

Habitat:

Rocky meadow on the edge of oak forest.

Notes:

Himantoglossum jankae (recorded as “H. caprinum”) is designated a threatened and protected species in most of the countries in which it occurs. It is listed in Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (the ‘Habitats Directive’) under the name “Himantoglossum caprinum (Bieb.) V.Koch”.