common man orchid

The common man orchid (Orchis anthropophora) is a type of orchid named for its humanlike flowers. This plant is native to grasslands in Great Britain, Eurasia, and northern Africa.1

The flower spike, which can grow up to 18 inches tall, features up to 90 greenish or yellowish flowers that have an unpleasant smell. The flowers resemble a helmeted person, with a lobed central petal forming the torso and limbs. The plant also has glossy leaves, thick roots, and underground tubers.1

Another related species is the naked man orchid (O. italica), found in the Mediterranean region. Its pink, purple, or white flowers cluster on a stalk and look like a naked, hatted man. The genus Orchis includes about 20 species of terrestrial orchids, some of which have tubers containing nutritious starch used to make a drink called salep.12