This is a species that was first descibed in 1848 from Genoa in Italy and was originally classified
as S. cordigera ssp neglecta .
Its similarity to S. cordigera is obvious but in pure populations it presents characteristics that can
be readily used to distinguish it. Its colouration is the first and most obvious feature as it tends to be
significantly lighter than S. cordigera where both the epichile and hypochile are most usually a dark
crimson to deep coffee colour. In S. neglecta colour varies from salmon pink to orange and yellow
through to the more normal Serapias colouration of light brownish red.
Bracts will normally be shorter or the same length as hood but perhaps the most important feature's in
terms of identification are the lateral lobes of the hypochile which project significantly beyond the hood.
The epichile can be extremely broad and because of the prominent lateral lobes, the flower as a whole
presents an esthetically pleasing "rippled" effect.
S. neglecta has a limited range which takes it from the sub Mediterranean area's of southern France
( mainly the Var ) down to Elba, Corsica, Sardinia and perhaps the Palermo region of Sicily where work is
going on to determine the identity of a population which shows intermediate characteristics between this
species and the widespread S. orientalis v siciliensis.
The species main centre of population is the Ligurian coast, notably in the region of La Spetzia and all the photograph's come from the mountains behind that City.
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