| Monkey orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| 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]
- ^ Foley, M.; Clarke, S. (2005). Orchids of the British Isles. Griffin Press for Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. p. 158. ISBN 0954191617.
- ^ a b Kreutz, C.A.J. (2004). The orchids of Cyprus. Kreutz. p. 353. ISBN 9080662631.
- ^ Pridgeon, Alex (1992). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Timber Press. p. 208. ISBN 0-88192-267-6.
- ^ Blamey, M; Grey-Wilson, C. (2005). Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. domino Books Ltd. p. 512. ISBN 0713670150.
- ^ "Caithness CWS - Caithness Field Club - Annual Bulletins - 1975 - October - Conservation". www.caithness.org. Retrieved 2021-08-30.