A. brachystachys
var. balearica was first described by Kreutz, Peacock and Trask from the
Balearic island of Mallorca
in 2024 and its name refers to the Spanish group of islands
to which it is endemic. It is the only formally named variety of this
species and one which exhibits some
highly individual characteristics.
It has been known to the botanical world for several years but has only recently received any degree of close attention. The noted German botanist Helmut Presser reported its presence in southern Mallorca, citing its differing characteristics and suggesting the plant should be regarded as a regional subspecies. He did not however follow this up with a paper and neither did he attribute a name to it. This orchid has also been discussed elsewhere and has even been referred to by a Spanish botanist as Anacamptis pyramidalis subsp. praecox, a name which would be appropriate given its early flowering.
The plant is typically tall and slender with a cylindrical inflorescence, considerably less dense than the type and very reminiscent of A. cerigensis from the eastern Mediterranean. The individual flowers also differ in the length of the lip, which is formed by three narrowly elongated lobes of virtually equal length. Colouration is predominantly white or very pale pink, though as seen in the final photo, can extremely rarely be a darker pink. The most significant differentiating characteristic is however its flowering period which commences in mid March and sees the plant declining by mid April and over by the time its cousin appears at the beginning of May. This early flowering variant seems to be confined to the Santanyi district of Mallorca but may possibly be present elsewhere in the Balearics.
The pictures date from the first week of April.
It has been known to the botanical world for several years but has only recently received any degree of close attention. The noted German botanist Helmut Presser reported its presence in southern Mallorca, citing its differing characteristics and suggesting the plant should be regarded as a regional subspecies. He did not however follow this up with a paper and neither did he attribute a name to it. This orchid has also been discussed elsewhere and has even been referred to by a Spanish botanist as Anacamptis pyramidalis subsp. praecox, a name which would be appropriate given its early flowering.
The plant is typically tall and slender with a cylindrical inflorescence, considerably less dense than the type and very reminiscent of A. cerigensis from the eastern Mediterranean. The individual flowers also differ in the length of the lip, which is formed by three narrowly elongated lobes of virtually equal length. Colouration is predominantly white or very pale pink, though as seen in the final photo, can extremely rarely be a darker pink. The most significant differentiating characteristic is however its flowering period which commences in mid March and sees the plant declining by mid April and over by the time its cousin appears at the beginning of May. This early flowering variant seems to be confined to the Santanyi district of Mallorca but may possibly be present elsewhere in the Balearics.
The pictures date from the first week of April.
