About Orchis simia Lam.
Orchis simia, commonly called the monkey orchid, is a species of the genus Orchis with flower color ranging from greyish pink to reddish. It gets its common name from its lobed lip, which resembles the general shape of a monkey's body. This species grows across central and southern Europe (including southern England), the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, northern Iraq, Iran, Turkmenistan, and northern Africa. It inhabits grassland, garrigue, scrub, and open woodland, and is mostly found on limestone soils. It is naturally absent from the Balearic Islands, Corsica, and Sardinia. On Cyprus, Orchis simia is classified as a threatened species. It has been a protected species in the UK since 1975, under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act.
