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Small-flowered tongue-orchid facts for kids

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Small-flowered tongue-orchid
Serapias parviflora-.jpg
Inflorescence of Serapias parviflora
Scientific classification
Genus:
Serapias
Species:
parviflora
Synonyms
  • Serapiastrum parviflorum (Parl.) A.A.Eaton
  • Serapias laxiflora Rchb.f.
  • Serapias columnae Aurnier
  • Serapias occultata J.Gay ex Willk.
  • Serapias elongata Tod.
  • Serapias mascaensis H.Kretzschmar, G.Kretzschmar & Kreutz

Serapias parviflora, the small-flowered tongue-orchid, is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean Basin and the Atlantic coast of Europe.

Description

Serapias parviflora grows to around 10–30 centimetres (4–12 in) high (occasionally up to 40 cm or 16 in). At the base of the stem, there are 4–7 keeled, linear leaves, and 1–3 bract-like leaves further up the stem. The 3–8 flowers (rarely up to 12) are arranged in a spike. The greyish-pink sepals and petals form a hood over the column and the lip, which is typically 14–19 mm (0.55–0.75 in) long.

Distribution

Serapias parviflora is found natively across the Mediterranean Basin from the Iberian Peninsula to the Aegean Sea, as well as in the Canary Islands and along the Atlantic coast of France. It was discovered in 1989 at Rame Head in Cornwall (United Kingdom), and may have dispersed there naturally.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Serapias parviflora para niños

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