This species was first described as S. apulica subsp. messapica by Lumare and Medagli from Lecce in 2017. Its range is not fully understood but as with S. uxentina, S. sallentina and S. guadinae, it is most frequent to the east of Lecce in the Salento peninsula.
S. messapica is a distinctive orchid which can be plentiful in its preferred sites, these consisting primarily of garrigue and scrub on alkaline soils. It is perhaps one of the more easily recognized of the newly described southern Italian Serapias species due to its yellowy green epichile and contrasting deep red hypochile. Whilst the leaves are an unremarkable green in colour, the bracts, hood and stem are noticeably paler than with most other taxons, being a whitish green with only the vaguest hint of red.
It is generally a tall species with long green bracts that exceed the length of the hood. The inflorescence is also long with densely arranged flowers that can number up to fifteen. Plants are frequently multi-stemmed with lower leaves forming a rosette and upper leaves that clasp the stem, reaching beyond the lower flowers.
It is a relatively early flowerer from March to mid April and can be found growing in significant numbers.
S. messapica is a distinctive orchid which can be plentiful in its preferred sites, these consisting primarily of garrigue and scrub on alkaline soils. It is perhaps one of the more easily recognized of the newly described southern Italian Serapias species due to its yellowy green epichile and contrasting deep red hypochile. Whilst the leaves are an unremarkable green in colour, the bracts, hood and stem are noticeably paler than with most other taxons, being a whitish green with only the vaguest hint of red.
It is generally a tall species with long green bracts that exceed the length of the hood. The inflorescence is also long with densely arranged flowers that can number up to fifteen. Plants are frequently multi-stemmed with lower leaves forming a rosette and upper leaves that clasp the stem, reaching beyond the lower flowers.
It is a relatively early flowerer from March to mid April and can be found growing in significant numbers.
