Barlia

Family Orchidaceae. It is found in meadows or in open woodlands, predominantly in lowlands or on hills with dry or moderately moist alkaline soils. It grows throughout the Mediterranean, except for the southern Adriatic.

The genus Barlia occupies a very isolated position within the orchid family. From a pair of underground tubers arises a robust stem up to 80 cm long, bearing 2-5 elongate-lanceolate leaves arranged in a rosette at its base. The inflorescence is dense, many-flowered, up to 23 cm long. The flowers display whitish-pink, lilac, brownish-red and greenish shades. The labellum (lip) is three-lobed, with two teeth in the middle part. Unlike the Canary Islands endemic Б. Метлезича (В. metlesicsiana), the labellum in is greenish and its lateral lobes are turned back. Flowers from January to May.