Neotinea maculata (Desf) Stearn
Syn. Neotinea intacta (Link) Rchb.f. Orchis intacta Link
The genus Neotinea (Reichenbach fil 1852) is closely related to the genus Orchis, and several species currently classified in it were originally described as members of the latter. Several botanical researchers considered the Neotinea maculata the only representative of the genus until the 2000s. Later, other authors expanded the genus to include other species with small flowers that had previously been classified in the genus Orchis.
This tiny European orchid is quite common in the Mediterranean basin, but rarer in the north. In several countries, it is considered a rare or endangered species and is protected by national laws. (Ireland, Malta, etc.)
In Kythira, I found only a small population in the center of the island; Delforges refers to it as having limited local distribution.
The miniature flowers remain half-open and are pale pink in color with rose-green veins when the plant blooms from March to May. The entire plant is very small and often goes unnoticed... be careful not to step on it!
The genus name was given in honor of Italian professor of botany Vincenzo Tineo (1791-1856), who served as Director of the Botanical Garden of Palermo from 1814 until his death.
The characteristic adjective of the species comes from the Latin maculatus-a- um, which means spotted, and refers to the pinkish-green stripes on the sepals.
