[The Cypriot]

Is this Limodorum abortivum (Violet Bird's Nest Orchid)?

[oron peri]

Yes, it is.

[MikeHardman]

Nice find!

FYI, if you use MS Windows, you can rotate photos by:
right-click --> Preview and use the left or right -rotate buttons at the bottom
That is just an easy way of opening 'Windows Picture and Fax Viewer'.
That applies to Windows XP and some other versions.

[John J]

Can I ask where and when you found this plant? Pam Scraton, who studied orchid species in Cyprus for many years, only ever recorded finding them in the area to the south of Troodos square. That is at the top of the Caledonian Falls trail and on the Persephone Nature Trail, flowering in June. It's unusual in being a saprophyte (it doesn't perform photosynthesis so has no green leaves).

[The Cypriot]

Found plants (5) between trees and the grassland reserve at Almyrolivado
Picture taken 8 June

[John J]

Thanks for that. It conforms with Pam's sightings for area and time of year.

[The Cypriot]

John, you're welcome.

Two more pictures. The plants were covered in ants, probably for protection.

[MikeHardman]

I found a small colony of these near Steni (near Polis, western Cyprus), in good flower on 1may11. The flower shapes were fairly variable.

At the time, the best ID I could manage was Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa.
But, a bit belatedly, I have just found out there is a new species on the block:
Ophrys alasiatica
syn. Ophrys sphegodes ssp. alasiatica (Kreutz, Segers & H.Walraven) H.Baumann & R.Lorenz, 2005,
which I have also seen described as
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. mammosa × O. sphegodes subsp. transhyrcana.
(This complex is a bit of a nightmare!)

I have limited description to go on re O. alasiatica.

Can anyone tell me if the ones in the photos from Steni are
O. sphegodes ssp. mammosa
or
O. alasiatica
(or something else)?

[oron peri]

Mike
As  you say this complex is a nightmare!!!

In my opinion you have right ID, it is Ophrys sphegodes subsp mammosa.

This form with greeny tiny lip has been called until recently Ophrys sintenisii but name is not vallid any more.

In fact Kreutz, Segers & H. walaraven have seperated this form yet to another species, O. alasiatica but this name is controversial.

All these species and subsp in Cyprus are now under one accepted name.  

[MikeHardman]

Thank you Oron; how good it is to have your high-quality opinion

[Cali]

I know it's a Serapia and a Dactylorrhiza, but I never knew S. what and D. what. The references are confused by Corfu nature which often belongs to the Adriatic and Balkans reather than Greece. Any ideas from the usual suspects?

[oron peri]

Anacamptis laxiflora [not Dactylorrhiza] and Serapias parviflora.

[Cali]

Thanks as always Oron.

[Cali]

I found it on my land today. It measures at 53cm. I don't think I have ever seen such a tall one. Can Oron or anyone let me know what it is?

[Umbrian]

I am delighted to report that the wild orchid that appeared in a part of my garden last year, only to be eaten by something just about as it was about to flower, has re-appeared this year and is now in flower. I am pretty sure it is a green winged orchid, orchis morio and am going to try to post a photo but since we changed to a broadband service I don't seem to be able to post photos. (Much faster and better service apart from this problem, oh to be a computer expert!)