Ophrys scolopax subsp. rhodia

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Liliopsida - Order: Orchidales - Family: Orchidaceae

This subspecies of Ophrys scolopax occurs only in Rhodes ans a couple of nearby small islands.

Description

Ophrys rhodia grows up to 35cm tall, and each inforescence carries up to 10 flowers which are smaller than those of Ophrys scolopax.The petals and sepals are pale green. The lip is recurved and deeply divided into three lobes. The mirror (pattern) covers the entirety of the central lobe. The two lateral lobes are sharply triangular, hairy and held out horizontally to the side of the central lobe . There is considerable colour variation in the lips from dark reddish-brown to predominantly mauve and white - see bottom picture.

Distribution

Ophrys rhodia has very limited distribution centred in the eastern Mediterranean region where it can be found in Rhodes and a couple of other nearby islands.

An attractive pale-coloured flower which is commonly found in colonies of Ophrys rhodia

Habitat.

This orchid grows in stony and grassy habitats on calcareous substrates. It is common in coastal habitats.

Flowering times

It flowers in April.

This specimen shown here was photographed close to the coast in Rhodes in April.

Etymology

The genus name Ophrys comes from Greek and means 'eyebrow' - a reference to the hairy fringe of the lip of the flower of many orchids in this genus. The specific epithet rhodia relates to its very limited distribution, primarily in Rhodes.

Reference sources

The Plant List

Chris Thorogood (2019) Field Guide to the Wildflowers of the Eastern Mediterranean, Kew Publishing

Henrik AErenlund Pedersen & Niels Faurholdt (2007) Ophrys - The Bee Orchids of Europe; Kew Publishing

Rolf Kuhn, Henrik AErenlund, Philip Cribb (2019) Field Guide to the Orchids of Europe and the Mediterranean

Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black