Heart-Flowered Orchid
Serapias cordigera Fr: Sérapias à languette
This variety of the tongue orchids is the tallest, and its 4-10 flowers are grouped together near the top of the stem.
Flowers. Mar-May
Flower. The sepals and petals are brownish-purple with dark stripes. The central lobe is darker, heart shaped, 20-35 mm long, and has two black lumps near the base.
Leaves. Narrow, lance shaped and channelled, up to 13 cm long. The basal leaves are sheath-like, purplish with red spots.
Habitat. Garrigue, maquis, roadsides, grassy places and open damp woodlands; prefers calcareous ground. We've found these early Spring in several places in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. There are many at the Villa Aurelienne in Fréjus.
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