Pyramidal orchid
Anacamptis pyramidalis

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It is 20-45 cm high. It grows in the soil. The leaves are arranged in a ring at the base of the stem. There are 4-10 leaves. The flower stalk consists of many small flowers 15 mm wide. They form a pyramid shape. The flowers are pink to dark red.

There is only one Anacamptis species. Harvesting from the wild is illegal in most of the plants range.

Where it is found

It grows mostly in the warm, dry grassland around the Mediterranean up to 1900 m altitude. In Britain it grows on chalk land. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The bulb is eaten cooked as porridge or used in bread. It is also used as powder mixed with milk to make salep.

Edible parts

Root, bulb

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division.

It is difficult to grow in cultivation.

Its other names

Local names

Kacun piraidalni, Piramidasti pilovec, Sahlep, Salep cicegi, Sivrisalep

Synonyms

Orchis pyramidalis L.; and several others