Anacamptis pyramidalis, 1817

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 343

1. A. pyramidalis (L.) L. C. M. Richard ,

Orchid. Eur. Annot. 33 (1817) ( Orchis pyramidalis L.).

Stem 20-60(-75) cm, slender, with 2-3 brownish, sheathing basal scales. Lower leaves 8-25 cm, linear- to oblong-lanceolate, acute, canaliculate, entire, the upper smaller, or bract-like. Spike 2-8 cm, conical to shortly cylindrical, many-flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate. Flowers purplish-red, rarely pink or white. Perianth-segments 4-6 mm, subequal, broadly lanceolate, the outer median elliptic-ovate, concave. Labellum 6—8(—9) mm, broadly cuneate, the lobes c. 4 mm, subequal, oblong, more or less entire. Spur 12-14 mm, filiform, acute. 2n = 36.

Grassland and scrub; calcicole.

W., C. & S. Europe, extending northwards to the Baltic islands and eastwards to C. Ukraine. All except Az Fa Fe Is No Rs (N, E) Sb.

Plants with small leaves and short spikes, from mountainous regions of the E. Mediterranean region, have been named var. brachystachys (D’Urv.) Boiss.