SPECIES DESCRIPTION
OPHRYS FUSCA
Including
Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE
Common None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Arachnites fuscus
Meaning:- Ophrys (L) Eye-brow, a name used by the Roman naturalist and
philosopher Pliny.
Fusca (L) Bright-brown, swathy, dark-coloured
General description:- Short to medium perennial.
Stem:-
1) Usually 10-30 cm tall.
Leaves:-
1) Basal, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, mucronate.
2) Cauline, 1-2, lanceolate, acute.
Flowers:-
1) Spike, 2-6(-10) small to medium-sized
2) Sepals, usually 8-12 mm. ovate, subobtuse. pale green to yellowish-green.
a) lateral, spreading.
b) medium, curved over the column.
3) Petals, 4-10 mm, narrowly oblong, olive green to pale brownish.
4) Labellum, usually 15-20 mm, narrowly obovate in outline, with a distinct
longitudinal furrow at the base. 3-lobed, ground colour purplish-brown.
a) lateral lobes, rather large, ± flat.
b) middle lobe, broadly rectangular to broadly obovate, emarginate.
c) mirror simple, ± fishtail-like, dull grey to shiny bluish.
5) Column, short, rounded.
Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, olive groves and fallow terraces, 0-700 m (to
1100 m in Crete),
Distribution:- Coastal areas throughout Greece lacking in the interior and the north,
- Mediterranean region; one of the most widespread and variable species,. Fairly
widespread on Crete.
Flowering time:- January to early June with a peak in March-April.
Photos by:- A. N. Other
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OPHRYS FUSCA subsp, FUSCA Back to Top
Synonyms:- Ophrys fusca subsp. cressa
Resembling Ophrys fusca, but differering in the following characters.
1) Labellum, straight to gently downcurved for most of its length, distinctly vaulted,
in cross-section with or without a narrow yellow margin, side lobes ± downcurved
2) Flowers, medium-sized.
3) Inflorescence not obviously spiral. occupying less that 1/3 of the stem.
Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open coniferous woodland and fallow
terraces
Distribution:- Throughout most of the range of the species.
Flowering time:- Mostly March-April.
Photos currently unavailable
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OPHRYS FUSCA subsp CINEREOPHILA Back to Top
Homotypic Synonyms:- Ophrys Cinereophila
Meaning:- Cinereophila (L) Ashen, ash-coloured.
Resembling Ophrys fusca, but differering in the following characters.
1) Labellum, pale green underneath; mirror dull brownish or bluish, not sharply
delimited, with a moderate to strong knee-like bend close to its base.
2) Flowers, small and spirally arranged in a long inflorescence occupying at least
1/3 of the stem
Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, in seasonally damp spots, olive groves and
fallow terraces. 0-1100 m.
Distribution:- Common on all the Greek islands. Fairly widespread on Crete.
Flowering time:- Early Mar to early May.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
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OPHRYS FUSCA subsp IRICOLOR Back to Top
Homotypic Synonyms:- Ophrys fusca ssp. iricolor
Meaning:- Iricolor (L) Of iris colours.
Resembling Ophrys fusca, but differering in the following characters.
1) Labellum, wine-red underneath; mirror shining bluish, sharply delimited.
Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation, grassy and rocky
habitats, open pine woodland, olive groves.
Distribution:- Mostly in the E Mediterranean area, eastwards to Cyprus and W
Syria. Fairly widespread and common on Crete.
Flowering time:- Mostly Mar-Apr
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
