Ophrys speculum subsp. regis-ferdinandii - King Ferdinand's Bee-orchid

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

This subspecies of the Mirror Orchid Ophrys speculum is confined to the eastern Mediterranean region and occurs in Rhodes in Greece and also in Turkey.

Description

The height of the plant is variable - it grows to between 15 - 30cm tall. Each inforescence carries up to 11 flowers. The petals and sepals are green suffused with purple or brown. The lip is the main distinguishing feature (from Ophrys speculum) and is recurved and deeply divided into three lobes. The two lateral lobes resemble 'arms' held out to the side of the central lobe and pointing downwards. There is a purple-ish border to the lip of some of the flowers which are sometimes fringed with rusty-brownish hairs.

Distribution

Ophrys regis-ferdinandii has a limited distribution centred in the eastern Mediterranean region where it can be found in the Greek island of Rhodes and also in Turkey.

There is a further subspecies of the Mirror Orchid called Ophrys lusitanica which is found in the Algarve region of Portugal. It is rare and localised and shares similarities in appearance to Ophrys regis-ferdinandii.

Habitat.

This orchid grows in stony habitats on calcareous substrates. In the Rhodes it can often be found on the edge of footpaths and rough tracks, in neglected Olive groves and also on the clifftops close to the sea.

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 regis-ferdinandii refers to King Ferdinand of Spain for whom the plant is named.

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