Orchis provincialis is part of the genus Orchis, largely amputated by numerous species now classified in the genera Anacamptis or Dactylorhiza.

Orchis are tuberous orchids, usually have two which gave them their Greek name Orchis which means testicle. One of the tubers allows the plant to grow while the second forms during this same period and will replace the original bulb which gradually withers the following year. If we were to dig up an orchid (which I of course prohibit), we would therefore find the tuber of the year more or less withered, the tuber in the making for the future season and sometimes an old one totally withered from the previous year.

Orchids are fairly tall plants (20 to 60 cm), rather robust and easily spotted in meadows, wastelands or light undergrowth. The preferred soils are generally calcareous or marly and rather dry.

Species from the south-eastern quarter of France and the northern part of the Mediterranean, it is a medium-sized orchid. Quite easy to identify with its whitish flowers and sometimes very white but almost always speckled with pink on the center of the labellum. It is therefore not a hypochromic version of the Orchis mascula which in this case is totally white. The leaves are spotted. It will be found in more acidic than calcareous soil but not humid.