Ophrys alasiatica C.A.J. Kreutz, Segers & Walravens, 2002
Group : O. mammosa
Common names: Alasian Ophrys [En], Ophrys proche de l'Asie [Fr], Alasia-Ragwurz [De]
Endemic species
Kalavasos (Καλαβασός), LARNACA (Λάρνακα) ● Cyprus
Description: O. alasiatica looks like O. mammosa but can be differentiate by several characteristics. It is a slender species, 20-60 cm height.
The sepals are ovate-lanceolate, slightly to heavy curved, whitish green to pink, the lateral having often the lower half pink tinted. The petals are often darker than the sepals.
The perianth segments (sepals, petals etc) are shorter and often more rounded than in either O. morio or O. mammosa.
The beak at the end of the column is short. The lip is entire to trilobite, 10-16 mm, light brown orange to dark brown, with light hairs on the shoulders. The basal protuberances tend to be less developed than on O. mammosa. The macula is shiny bluish grey, often white bordered. The basal field is always paler than the central part of the lip.
The distal half of the lip is usually bordered by a significant margin that can range in colour from yellow to orange or red.
Biology: Flowering from March to Mid-April. The pollinator is Andrena bimaculata.
Habitat: Calcareous soils, meadows, garrigue, shrubs, light pine forest.
Distribution: Endemic species of Cyprus where it is sometimes abundant.
References:
John and Gerry's Orchids of Britain and Europe
Kreutz K., Segers M. & Walraven H., 2002. Contributions to the Ophrys mammosa-group of Cyprus, Ophrys alasiatica C.A.J.Kreutz, Segers & Walraven spec. nov. J. Eur. Orch. 34: 463-492.
Delforge P., 2005. Guide des Orchidées d’Europe, d’Afrique du Nord et du Proche-Orient, Les guides du naturalistes, Delachaux et Niestlé.
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- Saturday 16 March 2013
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