SERAPIAS

genus of orchids, family Orchidaceae, containing about 10 species native to the Mediterranean region. The flowers of all species have a helmetlike structure formed by the union of two sepals and one petal. The long, triangular flower lip resembles a tongue. One species, S. lingua, is commonly known as the tongue orchid. It has a reddish lip, lance-shaped leaves, and a stem up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. The heart-flowered serapias (S. cordigera) has purple flowers with blackish purple lips that often have a tonguelike lobe.