1. ORCHIDS of the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

2. For this Slideshow the Eastern Mediterranean extends from the Gargano Promontory to Cyprus O O The majority of orchids illustrated have their western limits in this area; the range of some extend further east into Iran etc.

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

4. Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sipontensis

5. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . sipontensis

6. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . sipontensis

7. Habitat of Ophrys sphegodes subsp passionis

8. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . passionis

9. O. s. s. sipontensis O. s. s. passionis Hybrid?

10. Habitat of Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

11. Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

12. Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

13. Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

14. Anacamptis papilionacea

15. Anacamptis papilionacea

16. Anacamptis papilionacea

17. The habitat of the hybrids illustrated in the next seven slides

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

19. Ophrys x flavicans

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

21. Ophrys tenthredinifera O. x campolati

22. O. tenthredinifera O. x flavicans O. x campolati The two parents on the left, the resulting hybrid on the right.

23. O. tenthredinifera O. x flavicans O. x campolati Another hybrid

24. O. tenthredinifera O. bombyliflora O. x sommieri Photographed on the same site – the parents on the left, the hybrid on the right

25. The habitat of Ophrys fuciflora subsp. apulica

26. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . apulica

27. Growing on the very edge of this road surface was

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

29. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . lacaitae And in an adjoining pasture

30. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . lacaitae A native of Gargano, these were photographed on Sicily.

31. 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.

32. Ophrys fusca subsp. iricolor

33. Ophrys fusca subsp . iricolor

34. Ophrys fusca subsp . iricolor

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

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

37. Anacamptis boryi

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

39. which are similar in many respects to another Cretan speciality, Ophrys kotschyi subsp . c retica.

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

41. The rocky habitat of Orchis pauciflora

42. Orchis pauciflora

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

44. Tulipa orphanidea subsp. doerfleri

45. Tulipa orphanidea subsp. doerfleri

46. Tulipa saxatilis subsp. saxatilis

47. Tulipa saxatilis subsp . saxatilis

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

49. Tulipa saxatilis subsp. bakeri

50. The habitat of Ophrys fuciflora subsp . candica

51. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . candica

52. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . candica

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

54. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . fuciflora ( maxima )

55. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . fuciflora ( maxima )

56. Serapias orientalis

57. Another brief diversion to illustrate a Cretan endemic crocus.

58. Crocus sieberi

59. Crocus sieberi will lead us into southern Greece ……..

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

61. Crocus sublimis

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

63. Ophrys ferrum-equinum subsp . ferrum-equinum

64. Ophrys ferrum-equinum subsp . ferrum-equinum

65. 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…..

66. Ophrys sphegodes subsp spruneri

67. Ophrys ferrum-equinum Ophrys sphegodes subsp . spruneri

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

69. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . helenae

70. Ophrys scolopax subsp . cornuta

71. Ophrys scolopax subsp . cornuta

72. subsp . cornuta subsp . heldreichii It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between these two where their ranges overlap.

73. 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.

74. Orchis simia

75. Ophrys reinholdii subsp . reinholdii

76. Ophrys argolica subsp . argolica

77. Ophrys x delphinensis

78. O. scolopax subsp . cornuta O. argolica O. x delphinensis The parents on the left, the hybrid on the right.

79. O. scolopax s . heldreichii O. argolica O. x delphinensis Also a possibility.

80. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . aesculapii

81. Typical roadside habitat with Orchid quadripunctata.

82. Orchis quadripunctata

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

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

85. Orchis punctulata

86. Orchis punctulata

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

88. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . bornmuelleri

89. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . bornmuelleri

90. Another typical Eastern Mediterranean orchid habitat.

91. Ophrys sphegodes subsp . mammosa

92. Ophrys alasiatica

93. Ophrys alasiatica forma planimaculata

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

95. Ophrys omegaifera subsp . israelitica

96. Ophrys umbilicata subsp . umbilicata

97. Ophrys umbilicata subsp . umbilicata

98. O. scolopax O. umbilicata Illustrating the similarity of the two orchids.

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

100. Ophrys kotschyi subsp. kotschyi

101. Ophrys kotschyi subsp . kotschyi

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

103. Anacamptis morio subsp . syriaca

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

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

106. Orchis troodi

107. Orchis troodi

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

109. Cephalanthera kurdica

110. Cephalanthera kurdica

111. Southern Turkey The end