The Adriatic Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum Adriaticum H. Baumann) is described as a perennial herb with an erect stem 30-80 cm high. It has 15-45 flowers per stem which are green white with reddish brown markings up to 5 cm long sepals and petals forming a hood. It occurs in countries around the Adriatic including northern Italy and including our garden where this year there are at least 25 plants growing among the grasses. It is protected in some countries and by CITES. It is found in calcareous ground up to 1600 metres.
Although described as ‘quite attractive’, when you get close to the flowers and examine their delicacy and structure, the beauty becomes apparent. If you peer into the hood, there appears to be a face peering back at you. (Check in the images in the Gallery)
Canon EOS 40D with Canon 28-70mm F2.8L lens at 70mm with Canon 25mm extension tube ISO400 1/250 at f10
Cropped a little in Lightroom
