OPHRYS FUSCA subsp, CRETICOLA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Names:- Creticola ophrys

Homotypic Synonyms: None

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

philosopher Pliny.

Fusca (L) Bright-brown, swarthy, dark-coloured.

Creticola (Gr) Residing in Crete.

General description:- A strong squat plant. Perennial.

Stem:-

1) To 20cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, mucronate.

2) Cauline, 1-2, lanceolate, acute.

Flowers:-

1) Few reatively large.

2) Sepals, green, 3 veined.

3) Petals, dark green, with an olive-green to brown centre and brighter margins.

4) Labellum, 3-lobed, medium sized to large, spreading, appearing almost

undiveded. ± flat with a small oblong and cross curve, with obvious but smooth

prominences at its base that do not form a bent and dense pilosity, blackish,

occasionally red-black towards the edges. Margins, smooth with a yellow border

5) Speculum, small, undivided, blue, sometimes shiny and sometimes matte, tinted

grey-silvery to black-violet, with the possible existence of swellings or parallel

transverse folds at the upper side.1)

1) Data sourced from "The Self Grown Orchids of Greece" Antonis Alibertis 2015

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, dehiscing, by 3 or 6 longitudinal slits.

2) Seeds, numerous, minute, with undifferentiated embryo and no endosperm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Grassy dry open shrubby vegetation areas of meadow, open olive groves

up to an altitude of around 1100m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Fairly widespread central and east, but not

common.

Flowering time:- Jan to early June, peaking, Mar-April.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos