S. carica var. monantha was first described from the Cycladic island of Kimolos by Delforge in 1999. Its name refers to the characteristic single flowered inflorescence.
This is an uncommon species but one which may grow in large numbers in its preferred sites. It is perhaps at its most frequent in the Dodecanese islands and particularly Kos where it shows a partiality for rocky, nutrient poor substrates, often in the company of other Serapias species, notably the significantly larger S. carica itself. Another taxon with which it frequently associates is S. cycladum, a similarly small plant that has confusingly been recorded as appearing in single flowered form. The two taxons are morphologically extremely similar and the authors cannot offer any conclusive guidance as to how the two may be satisfactorily distinguished.
As already mentioned S. carica var. monantha often forms large colonies, almost always amongst other Serapias species but more rarely singly or in small numbers. It is tolerant of dry sometimes arid conditions and is particularly frequent in coastal areas. The flower is virtually indistinguishable from that of the nominate species S. carica, being dark red with thick white hair at the base of the epichile. The hypochile protrudes from the hood and the bract is shorter or equal in length to the hood. The flowering period extends from early April to mid May, a month later than S. carica.
The photographs come from Kos, dating from the second week of April, at which time many of the plants in the colony were yet to flower.
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