Ophrys tenthredinifera - Sawfly orchid - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is prettily coloured and must, surely, be one of the most beautiful of the Ophrys genus. Identification is relatively easy because there appears to be less variation among the plants, even from country to country, than there are in many other ophrys species.

Sawfly Orchids in Italy

A lovely group of plants photographed in Italy

Ophrys tenthredinifera - Sawfly Orchid

Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR163f_ophrys_tenthredinifera.jpg (Large file)...

Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR164f_ophrys_tenthredinifera.jpg (Large file)...

A closeup picture of a solitary plant found in the Algarve close to Burgau

Closeup of flower of the Sawfly Orchid

The Sawfly orchid favours maquis and garrigue habitats and appears from mid-March to May. It can grow up to 40 cm and has deep pink sepals and narrow pink upper petals. The lip is velvety and coloured maroon-brownish with a yellow, very hairy margin. It is widespread in the Mediterranean region and we have seen it in Portugal, Crete and in the Gargano Peninsula in Italy.

The photographs on this page were taken in the Gargano Peninsula area of Italy (top and bottom) in April, and the Algarve in Portugal in late March.