Lycian Kaş orchid (Endemic to Antalya Province)
The Lycian Kaş orchid, endemic to the Kaş District of Antalya Province is critically endangered because of its tubers being uprooted to acquire the raw material for sahlep. A comprehensive protection and training project is being carried out with the cooperation of Akdeniz University, Antalya Regional Directorate of Forestry and The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for the Lycian Kaş orchid, of which only a few hundred individuals remain alive (Deniz, 2011). Ophrys lycia which flowers during the first weeks of April is generally 10-50 cm tall. There are 4-7 leaves with shapes ranging from oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate. The inflorescence generally has 2-7 flowers. The flowers are large and quite showy. The sepals are oblong-lanceolate and red-violet in colour. The petal shapes vary from long narrow lanceolate to broadly ovoid-lanceolate, glabrous or with short, sparse hairs with red-violet colours. Labellum is entire, generally flat or slightly convex with indistinct bosses at the shoulders. Speculum has a silvery greyish blue colour, narrow white edges with an H shape. The appendix has a broadly base and a triangular shape.
Reference: Deniz, İ.G. 2011. Kaş Orkidesi (Ophrys lycia Renz & Taubenheim) ve Koruma Projesi, Bağbahçe, 37: 25-27.
