Himantoglossum (Barlia) robertiana

Giant orchid

Photographed Crete, 4 April 1999

Negative number 99D33

The height of this species is listed as 8 to 44 inches (20 to 110 cm), but we have never seen them less than 24 inches tall. The labellum is typically 13 to 22 mm long. It tends to come in two colour forms - purple and brown or greenish yellow. This is one of the earliest orchids to flower December to January in N Africa, January to March in Crete & Cyprus. It can be raised from seed and in cultivation is reported to produce tubers as big as cricket balls. It is found along the Atlantic coast of Spain, the countries along the South & East of the Mediterranean and heads further East and North.