Ophrys sicula - (Orchidaceae)

All three members of the Ophrys lutea group (Delforge, 2005) occur in Crete, and it is distinguishing between Ophrys phryganae and Ophrys sicula that causes the most headaches: they are both small plants with smaller flowers than Ophrys lutea itself, and the flowers have much narrower yellow borders than in Ophrys lutea.

Ophrys sicula

Ophrys sicula is the smallest of the three plants and can be distinguished from Ophrys phryganae by its flatter, smoother lip; the lip of Ophrys phryganae being somewhat 'bumpy' in appearance.

Ophrys sicula

The small flower of Ophrys sicula

Ophrys sicula blooms early - from February until the end of April - and it likes sunny positions in grassland, stony and rocky places, abandoned farmland and phrygana. It is relatively widespred in the Mediterranean region although not thought to occur in the Iberian Peninsula.

The plants shown on this page were photographed in Crete in mid April.