OPHRYS OMEGAIFERA subsp. OMEGAIFERA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ophrys fusca ssp. omegaifera

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).

General description:- Short to medium perennial

Stem:-

1) To 40 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, oblong-lanceolate blunt.

2) Cauline, leaves narrower and pointed.

Flowers:-

1) Spikes, mostly with 2-6 flowers.

2) Sepals, green, occasionally pinkish, oblong to spikey mostly with

3) Petals, 3 oval; green, narrow, parallel-sided, half as long as the sepals, more or

less glabrous.

4) Labellum, 15-28 mm. long, deflexed, cunate, 3-lobed, purplish or yellowish-

brown, often yellow-edged, with a pale brown speculurn surrounded by a

yellowish or whitish band.

a) lateral lobes and distal part of middle lobe, densely short-pubescent to

velvety.

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:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, grassland, open coniferous woodland,

olive groves. 0-700(1100) m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete, E. Aegean & SW. Anatolia. Somewhat scattered

across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar to mid-May

Photos by:- Steve Lenton