Orchis militaris

Orchis militaris

Ssp. militaris: Asker salebi; Ssp. stevenii: Gürbüz salep
Plant 20-50 cm, with 2-5 oblong to oblong-lanceolate leaves. Spike cylindrical, to 20 cm. Sepals forming an oblong-lanceolate hood to 15 mm with  free tips, directed ±parallel to labellum, greyish-rose outside, with darker veins. Labellum equalling or rather longer than sepals, 3-lobed, rose-violet, with small tufts of darker hairs in centre; lateral lobes linear, to 7 mm; middle lobe narrow, divided into 2 diverging, narrowly oblong to slightly cuneate lobules, with tiny tooth in between. Spur thin, cylindrical, to 6-7 mm. Fl. 5-6. Open montane meadows and rivulets, 600-1900 m.
Caucasia. Hyrcano-Euxine element.