This mediterranean species is said to mimic Sawflys -the males of which are attracted by the flower's appearance & scent(presumably smelling of female Sawfly). The duped male fly attempts to mate with the orchid flower & in doing so inadvertently picks up the orchid flower pollinia which it then carries to the next "false female".

Cultivated in a cold greenhouse in a plunged clay pot containing a mixture of grit/seramis/pumice/perlite/sterilised loam (30%:20%:20%:20%:10%). Full winter sun, dry summer being first watered in september & kept moist till the first flower bud starts to open in march, then allowed to slowly dry out.