Widely spread across Europe from Great Britain eastwards to the Balkans and Hungary; western N Africa. Generally rare.
A robust orchid of grassy places, scrub, dunes and open woodland. The plant can attain a height of about 90 cm. The flowers are produced in quite large numbers in the spike; the middle lobe of the labellum is remarkably long and twisted giving the flower spike an untidy appearance.
Himantoglossum hircinum sensu restricto is one of a complex of similar plants. The boundaries between the taxa within the Himantoglossum hircinum aggregate are not always clear.
Upper two photographs: Spain, 1995.
Bottom photograph: Normandy, France, 2000.
© Alan Hill.
Click photographs for larger images.