S. gregaria was first described by Godfrey from
Var, southern France in 1921 and it takes its name from the "gregarious" manner in which the species forms its colonies. It's a
member of the S. lingua group of Serapias. thought to be of hybridogenous origin with S. lingua and S. parviflora as progenitors.
This species is endemic to southern France and more particularly to the provinces of Var and Alpes-Maritimes where it shows a preference for a sunny position in damp habitat on alkaline to neutral soils. It will however tolerate significantly drier conditions, even garrigue when near the coast.
S. gregaria, despite its hybrid origins is not a particularly varied orchid, though at the extremes of its natural variation it can easily be confused with S. olbia, another hybridogenous species endemic to a very similar range within southern France. Generally however, S. gregaria is a similarly slender orchid but with up to seven flowers rather than the two or three carried by S. olbia. The flowers themselves differ in ways that reflect their hybrid origins. S. gregaria exhibits a relatively short, narrow epichile reminiscent of S. parviflora whereas S. olbia carries a wider epichile suggestive of its parent S. cordigera. Flower colouration is also different with the epichile of S. gregaria invariably being dark red whereas S. olbia is more varied, often reflecting the lighter, pinker hues of S. lingua.
Where S. gregaria grows in damper conditions its leaves remain in good condition but in drier situations the leaves quickly shrivel and this gives the plant a distinctive long stemmed appearance. It flowers from mid April, some two weeks earlier than S. olbia and particularly in damp sites, can still be in flower in mid May.
This species is endemic to southern France and more particularly to the provinces of Var and Alpes-Maritimes where it shows a preference for a sunny position in damp habitat on alkaline to neutral soils. It will however tolerate significantly drier conditions, even garrigue when near the coast.
S. gregaria, despite its hybrid origins is not a particularly varied orchid, though at the extremes of its natural variation it can easily be confused with S. olbia, another hybridogenous species endemic to a very similar range within southern France. Generally however, S. gregaria is a similarly slender orchid but with up to seven flowers rather than the two or three carried by S. olbia. The flowers themselves differ in ways that reflect their hybrid origins. S. gregaria exhibits a relatively short, narrow epichile reminiscent of S. parviflora whereas S. olbia carries a wider epichile suggestive of its parent S. cordigera. Flower colouration is also different with the epichile of S. gregaria invariably being dark red whereas S. olbia is more varied, often reflecting the lighter, pinker hues of S. lingua.
Where S. gregaria grows in damper conditions its leaves remain in good condition but in drier situations the leaves quickly shrivel and this gives the plant a distinctive long stemmed appearance. It flowers from mid April, some two weeks earlier than S. olbia and particularly in damp sites, can still be in flower in mid May.
