orchis italica Poire
Orchid the Italian orchid
This beautiful orchid is perhaps the most widespread in Kythera. From the end of March the graceful pink corymbs fill the bare fields, roadside verges growing among bushes and thorns. Its flower resembles a small male man, hence the ancient Greek name: “satyrion”, a reference to the naked satyrs, attendants of the god Dionysus. Like most orchids the flowering starts at the base and gradually progresses to the top creating a beautiful cone.
Its root after processing gives a white powder, salepi.
In Turkey, where salepi was popular, this and other orchids have almost disappeared due to overcollection of bulbs. In Greece, wild collection of the plant is prohibited as most Greek orchids are considered rare and endangered species and are protected by law.
In the southeast of the island I found a single white one. Apparently it's an albino person.
