orchids of the eastern mediterranean

ORCHIDS of the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

For this Slideshow the Eastern Mediterranean extends from the Gargano Promontory to CyprusOOThe majority of orchids illustrated have their western limits in this area;

the range of some extend further east into Iran etc.

Gargano has a wonderful orchid flora, this is the habitat of Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sipontensis

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sipontensis

Habitat of Ophrys sphegodes subsp passionis

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. passionis

O. s. s. sipontensisO. s. s. passionisHybrid?

Habitat of Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

Anacamptis papilionacea

The habitat of the hybrids illustrated in the next seven slides

Ophrys x flavicans - Hybrid formula O. bertolonii x O. sphegodes (neither found on site)

Ophrys x flavicans

O. x flavicans (O. promontorii)Ophrys x flavicans

Ophrys tenthredinifera

O. x campolati

O. tenthrediniferaO. x flavicansO. x campolatiThe two parents on the left, the resulting hybrid on the right.

O. tenthrediniferaO. x flavicansO. x campolatiAnother hybrid

O. tenthrediniferaO. bombyliflora O. x sommieriPhotographed on the same site the parents on the left, the hybrid on the right

The habitat of Ophrys fuciflora subsp. apulica

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. apulica

Growing on the very edge of this road surface was

Growing on the very edge of the road surface was Ophrys fuciflora subsp. lacaitae

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. lacaitaeAnd in an adjoining pasture

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. lacaitaeA native of Gargano, these were photographed on Sicily.

To Crete, an island once well forested, now reduced to expanses of this degraded vegetation,often called phrygana, but the habitat of Ophrys fusca subsp. iricolor.

Ophrys fusca subsp. iricolor

Another subspecies found on Crete is Ophrys fusca subsp. cinereophila.

Many flowers of Orchid italica, but hidden amongst the thorny burnet, the rather rare Anacamptis boryi.

Anacamptis boryi

Also on the same site were orchids we have named Ophrys kotschyi subsp. ariadnae,

which are similar in many respects to another Cretan speciality, Ophrys kotschyi subsp. cretica.

Another orchid favouring a similar habitat on Crete is Ophrys omegaifera subsp. fleischmannii.

The rocky habitat of Orchis pauciflora

Orchis pauciflora

A brief diversion for three tulips - firstly the habitat of Tulipa orphanidea subsp. doerfleri.

Tulipa orphanidea subsp. doerfleri

Tulipa saxatilis subsp. saxatilis

The margins of this field have become the habitat of Tulipa saxatilis subsp. bakeri

Tulipa saxatilis subsp. bakeri

The habitat of Ophrys fuciflora subsp. candica

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. candica

Fire often destroys rank vegetation allowing smaller plants such as our next orchid to flower again.

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. fuciflora (maxima)

Serapias orientalis

Another brief diversion to illustrate a Cretan endemic crocus.

Crocus sieberi

Crocus sieberi will lead us into southern Greece ..

onto the slopes of Mount Parnassos where, amongst this mass of crocus we find

Crocus sublimis

Not so very far away, below Delphi, we find this degraded vegetation again, happily supporting more orchids including..

Ophrys ferrum-equinum subsp. ferrum-equinum

Also amongst these spiny shrubs was another orchid, similar in appearance, to O. ferrum-equinum, with which it intergrades when the ranges overlap. It is..

Ophrys sphegodes subsp spruneri

Ophrys ferrum-equinumOphrys sphegodes subsp. spruneri

Can you see the rather dull labellum of Ophrys sphegodes subsp helenae?

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. helenae

Ophrys scolopax subsp. cornuta

subsp. cornutasubsp. heldreichiiIt is sometimes difficult to distinguish between these two where their ranges overlap.

Orchis simia is a widespread European orchid, but these fine specimens dominated a wonderful orchid site in the Peloponnese that supported the Ophrys gems that appear shortly.

Orchis simia

Ophrys reinholdii subsp. reinholdii

Ophrys argolica subsp. argolica

Ophrys x delphinensis

O. scolopax subsp. cornutaO. argolicaO. x delphinensisThe parents on the left, the hybrid on the right.

O. scolopax s. heldreichiiO. argolicaO. x delphinensisAlso a possibility.

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. aesculapii

Typical roadside habitat with Orchid quadripunctata.

Orchis quadripunctata

Cyprus is another orchid paradise this site supported over 500 flowering plants of Orchis punctulata

A bush fire in the summer should help these orchids to survive.

Orchis punctulata

More Orchis punctulata, but Ophrys fuciflora subsp. bournmuelleri, slightly to the left, is our next orchid.

Ophrys fuciflora subsp. bornmuelleri

Another typical Eastern Mediterranean orchid habitat.

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. mammosa

Ophrys alasiatica

Ophrys alasiatica forma planimaculata

A plantation of blocks of pines and eucalyptus, west of Larnaca, supported a variety of orchids.

Ophrys omegaifera subsp. israelitica

Ophrys umbilicata subsp. umbilicata

O. scolopaxO. umbilicataIllustrating the similarity of the two orchids.

The limestone hills inland from Larnaca Bay supported many plants of..

Ophrys kotschyi subsp. kotschyi

Hardly visible in this rough area are a number of plants of..

Anacamptis morio subsp. syriaca

Comparing Anacamptis morio subsp syriaca with the more robust and widespread subsp. morio

The foothills of the Troodos Mountains and the endemic Orchis troodi.

Orchis troodi

Our final species, Cephalanthera kurdica, was photographed in southern Turkey where it is at the western edge of its range

Cephalanthera kurdica

Southern TurkeyThe end

orchids of the eastern mediterranean

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