This species was first described from Algeria in 1789 and its name ( long-horn) refers to the length of
the spur. It has spent most of its scientific existence as an Orchis in the O. morio group but recent
studies have determined that it more correctly belongs with the genus Anacamptis.
It is a distinguished and highly attractive plant that has a largely southern Mediterranean distribution
covering the Balearic Islands, Malta, Corsica, Sicily, sothern Italy and north Africa. In much of it's
range it's a rare orchid but in Mallorca it's comparitively common and in Sicily, although sometimes local,
can be abundant.
A. longicornu is easily recognizable as a morio group member but is unlikely to be confused with either A.
morio or A. picta as it shows several clear distinguishing features. Like it's close relatives, it exhibits a
strong propensity to vary in colour and can be found in forms that at one end of the scale are reminiscent
of A. morio and at the other (and more typically) have a deep purple lip that contrasts strongly with a
very pale, sometimes white hood. Hypochromatic plants are relatively common.
Where a plant superficially resembles a morio the differentiating factor is the spur. In A. longicornu it
is noticeably longer than the lip whereas the spur in A. morio and A. picta is shorter. The shape of the
spur also differs in that it is thickened at the end and reminiscent of a small club (when viewed from
the front). The pictures are from Sicily and Mallorca and its interesting to note that the examples from the latter island (photo's 3,5,7and 15) show much greater colour contrast than the Sicillian plants.
