Serapias cordigera

Quick Characteristics:

Serapias cordigera L. is a widespread species of the western Mediterranean and Portugal, reaching as far east as Turkey, climbing the Balkans all the way to the southern border of Austria, and populating the African coast from Morocco to Libya.

The heart-shaped frontal lip is usually intensely red colored, contrasting with the silverish bracts, but the photos by Martin Bohnet of the same plant in different years show that intense sunlight is needed for that contrast to fully build in culture north of the alps. To assure the identification, look at the base of the lip to find two blackish-purple calluses.