No, Kenny, they are very different species, albeit of the same genus. Major differences: italica has shorter 'arms' and longer 'genitalia'; colour; height; flower density; leaves etc. Descriptions from http://www.cypenv.info/cypnat/files/angio/orchidaceae.aspx : Orchis italica, Naked Man Orchid This is a sturdy plant with a rather coarse and deep green leaves with wavy edges bearing a thick medium to long stem of numerous pink man-shaped flowers, complete with 'genitalia' ; it often covers large areas of grassland and hillsides. It grows to about 35 cm with a sturdy green stem with a rosette of wavy-edged deep green leaves at the base, without spots, and short whitish bracts. There is a densely packed cylinder of quite large flowers in a tinge of pink shades from almost white to nearly red. The hood has deeper coloured veins. The labellum is pale in the centre with deeper spots and streaks. It is divided, like some other closely related orchids, into three lobes, with the middle one divided again into too long tips with a tooth between. In this species the tips in the tooth are all long and narrow. There is a short thick pale spur pointing down behind. This is the only orchids to have wavy-edged leaves. Its colour and labellum shape and its profusion are all helpful in identification. This is one of the best-known Mediterranean orchids because it can be seen by many rural roadsides in mid-to-late March and often advertises the presence of other orchids at the same site. (Source: extract adapted, with permission, from "the Orchids of Cyprus and where to find them", written by Joan Hubbard and Pamela Scraton) Orchis simia, Monkey Orchid This is a compact plant with a rosette of light green leaves and the rather dense flower head of monkey-shaped flowers: the coloured "body" contrasting with the deeper "limbs". It has a slender green stem, about 20 cm high, with rather shiny light green leaves and pale pinkish bracts. The flowers are densely packed in an oval shaped head which looks whitish before opening from the top. The sepals and petals form a hood, pale on the outside with streaks of purplish red. This pattern is repeated in the centre of the labellum while the tips of all three lobes are reddish purple; the middle lobe is divided again into two long tips and a short tooth between them. All the tips are bent and angled and the overall effect is of a monkey-shape with long limbs all over the place. The spur is short and sturdy, pale and down-pointing. The flowers have an unpleasant smell. This orchid flowers in late March and can be seen in Limassol district and near the Larnaca Salt Lake. Outside Cyprus, this plant is common in Europe and throughout the Mediterranean basin and Middle East, as far as Iran. (Source: extract adapted, with permission, from "the Orchids of Cyprus and where to find them", written by Joan Hubbard and Pamela Scraton) Brian On 13/12/2010 18:15, KennyB wrote: > Very nice Brian, I always look forward to you Christmas greeting. I couldn't help but notice that the "Naked Man" orchid and the "Monkey" orchid looked identical. Is that a mistake or a comment ;-) > > Merry Christmas to all, > > KennyB > >> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >> Von: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Im Auftrag von Brian Ellis >> Gesendet: Montag, 13. Dezember 2010 13:00 >> An: [log in to unmask] >> Betreff: [TN] NTC: Greetings Video for the Season >> >> This year's Greetings Video >> http://www.cypenv.info/christmas/greetings%202010/ has been uploaded. to >> wish you all, irrespective of your beliefs and faith, the very best for >> the Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year. >> >> If you prefer the YouTube version (slightly lower quality), please click >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlxBzSXmJTw >> >> Brian > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. > For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/ContentPage.aspx?Pageid=E-mail-Forums for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 > ----------------------------------------------------- > ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/ContentPage.aspx?Pageid=E-mail-Forums for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------