Quick Characteristics:
| Height: | 30-45 cm (1-1.5 ft) |
| Flower Colors: | pink |
| Flower Season: | early summer |
| Life form: | tuber |
Anacamptis sancta (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase, syn. Orchis sancta, the holy orchid, is another one of the species transferred from Orchis in 1997. The epithet denominates the "holy land" Israel as type origin, though in fact the species is common throughout the coastal regions of the Levant, Turkey, Crete, Cyprus and many islands of the Aegean Sea.
During the growth period in winter they prefer humid though well drained locations like natural drainage channels, which may fall completely dry during the flowering period in April (southernmost populations) to June. At that time of the year, they are usually the last flowering orchid in the area and have mostly lost their unspotted basal leaves. The up to 30 flowers per spike range from pale to deep pink in lip color, always combined with a greenish, closed helmet with a pronounced pointed tip. The long lip is lobed again with pointed tips. Pictures show a plant grown under frost-free glass by Martin Bohnet.
