S Italy, Sardinia and Sicily eastwards to Cyprus, S Anatolia and the Lebanon.
A rather delicate species, with pink, purplish-red or white flowers and with 2 - 5 spots on the central white part of the labellum. In poor grassland and scrub aon dry and stony soils; ascending to 1500 m. Usually on calcareous substrates.
Photograph: a limestone ridge on Cyprus 2004.
© Paul Hackney.
Click photograph for larger image.