S. joaninae was first described as S. vomeracea subsp. joaninae
by Reumaux in 1989 but the lack of a holotype led to its promotion and
provision of same by Kreutz in 2018. The newly provided holotype was
from Carqueianne in the Var region of southern France. This species is
a member of the S. vomeracea group of orchids.
S. joaninae is only known from a few, mostly coastal and a small number of inland locations in southern France, exclusively on alkaline soils, where it is local and not uncommon. Its preferred habitat is open grassland, macchia, wasteland and forest margins but rarely in shaded positions or rank vegetation. The flower itself is reminiscent of S. vomeracea but the inflorescence contains just a few flowers sequenced loosely up the stem, quite unlike the denser flower-head of its cousin. The number of flowers is usually three or four but may rarely be up to six and carried on an elongated stem which can occasionally contribute to an overall height reaching a statuesque 60cms.
The epichile, not unlike S. vomeracea, is wide and relatively long but rarely appears in the usual Serapias brick red, being generally lighter coloured and delicately tinted with hues of yellow or orange. The bracts always exceed the length of the hood and as with the hood, are darker and more typically mauveish/red in colour than the epichile.
The pictures come from the Hyeres region of Var in southern France and date from the last week of May at which time they were in full flower.
S. joaninae is only known from a few, mostly coastal and a small number of inland locations in southern France, exclusively on alkaline soils, where it is local and not uncommon. Its preferred habitat is open grassland, macchia, wasteland and forest margins but rarely in shaded positions or rank vegetation. The flower itself is reminiscent of S. vomeracea but the inflorescence contains just a few flowers sequenced loosely up the stem, quite unlike the denser flower-head of its cousin. The number of flowers is usually three or four but may rarely be up to six and carried on an elongated stem which can occasionally contribute to an overall height reaching a statuesque 60cms.
The epichile, not unlike S. vomeracea, is wide and relatively long but rarely appears in the usual Serapias brick red, being generally lighter coloured and delicately tinted with hues of yellow or orange. The bracts always exceed the length of the hood and as with the hood, are darker and more typically mauveish/red in colour than the epichile.
The pictures come from the Hyeres region of Var in southern France and date from the last week of May at which time they were in full flower.
