Tongue Orchid
ExplorePlants
Tongue Orchid
Serapias lingua
The Tongue Orchid is a beautiful flower that looks like a little tongue sticking out! It has unique shapes and colors that make it special. This flower loves to grow in sunny spots and can be found in fields and meadows.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Tongue Orchid has unique greenish-brown sepals and petals that form a protective hood over its distinctive, reddish-purple or brownish-pink lip. This prominent, often hairy 'tongue' hangs forward, making it instantly recognizable and giving the flower its name.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusSerapias
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its name "lingua" means "tongue" in Latin, for its unique flower lip!
Some scientists believe it might trick male bees by pretending to be a cozy nest.
This sneaky orchid often offers no nectar, making pollinators work for free!
You can find this unique flower hiding in sunny Mediterranean fields and scrublands.
Special abilities
Ability
Clever Mimicry
Tongue Orchid can mimic female solitary bees with its flower shape and subtle scent, tricking male bees into pollinating it.
Ability
Hairy Landing Pad
Tongue Orchid has a fuzzy, tongue-like lip that feels like a female bee's body, encouraging male bees to land and pick up pollen.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-40 cm
- Spread
- 5-10 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
solitary bee
Eucera nigrilabris
attracted by deceptive mimicry, no reward offered
pollinates
tawny mining bee
Andrena fulva
tricked by the flower's appearance and texture
eaten by
garden snail
Helix aspersa
snails can browse on the leaves and flowers
Traits
Aromatic
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch flowers in the wild, so they can keep growing!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Tongue Orchid?
10-40 cm
How wide does Tongue Orchid spread?
5-10 cm
How big are the flowers on Tongue Orchid?
1-2 cm
When does Tongue Orchid bloom?
Spring to early summer
Is Tongue Orchid edible?
No
Is Tongue Orchid toxic?
None
What is Tongue Orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Tongue Orchid pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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