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
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
Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella
Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella
Anacamptis papilionacea
Anacamptis papilionacea
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
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 orphanidea subsp. doerfleri
Tulipa saxatilis subsp. saxatilis
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
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)
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
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
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
Orchis punctulata
More Orchis punctulata, but Ophrys fuciflora subsp. bournmuelleri, slightly to the left, is our next orchid.
Ophrys fuciflora subsp. bornmuelleri
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
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
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
Orchis troodi
Our final species, Cephalanthera kurdica, was photographed in southern Turkey where it is at the western edge of its range
Cephalanthera kurdica
Cephalanthera kurdica
Southern TurkeyThe end
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