OPHRYS OMEGAIFERA var BASILISSA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Name:- Royal ophrys

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ophrys basilissa, Ophrys omegaifera subsp.

basilissa.

Meaning:- Ophrys (L) Eye-brow, a name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny.

Omegaifera (L) Omega shaped (reference to the "W" shaped

marking).

Basilissa (Gr) May refer to: Basilinna or Basilissa, the ritual queen who

was wed to Dionysus during the Anthesteria in ancient Athens. Note by A Alibertis

"Orchids of Greece" (We gave it this name because the flower seemed "royal" due

to it's size and because it was first found near the palace of Faistos).

General description:- Short to medium perennial

Stem:-

1) To 15-25 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, oval, blunt.

2) Cauline, narrower and pointed.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, sparse, with 2-4 (-6) large flowers, which clearly look like boxing

gloves.

2) Sepals, 13-20 mm. green with three veins.

3) Petals, 10-14 mm. green with purple edging, and may have a very slight

wavyness.

4) Labellum, 17-28 x I7-28 tri-Iobed, without a longitudinal furrow at the base,

velutinous, dark brown in colour and velvety, blazon, brown or blue-violet

bordered, by a Greek omega, shiny grey-blue, blue or white, both side lobes and

middle, lobe gently downward-curved in front.

a) mid-lobe, notched.

b) sides-lobes, triangular.

5) Stigmatic cavity 45-6 x 4-5.5 mm.

Key features:-

1) Labellum, 17-28 x I7-28 tri-Iobed, both side lobes and middle lobe, gently

downward-curved in front

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Meadows, grassy places in dry open shrubby vegetation, open ground on

basic subsoil. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Indigenous to Crete and can be found growing all over the island, but

particularly in central and eastern Crete.

Flowering time:- Feb-Apr.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis