OPHRYS SITIACA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Names:- Sitia orchid

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

philosopher Pliny.

Sitiaca (L) From the area of Sitia E. Crete.

General description:- Small plants, delicate.

Stem:-

1) Often only around 7-20 cm high.

Leaves:-

1) Oval-shaped.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, sparse, with 1-4 (- 5) flowers.

2) Sepals, 8-16 mm, curved, with backwards curling edges, varying from greenish to

whitish,

a) lateral, asymmetrical.

b) mid-sepal, bending over the column.

3) Petals, smooth, flat and convergent, green often with purple-brown edges, 6-11

mm. tops ragged, truncated, with wavy margins.

4) Labellum, 0-16 x 8-15 mm, 3-lobed, flat and horizontal, sometimes geniculate.

There is also a slight slit at the base of the labellum in the shape of a “V”,

which often extends into the blazon in a small groove.

a) lobe tops, varying from light brown to blackish-brown.

b) lateral lobes, divergent, triangular, rounded and curved under the lip.

c) mid-lobe, humped, rhomboid, and notched.

5) Blazon, shiny brown, often with blue high-lights, occasionally all blue. spattered

with white and bordered at the top, with a design like a "W" which is smooth,

white, bluish or yellowish, with undefined edges.

6) Stigmatic cavity, 3-4 x 3.5-4.5 mm. yellowish

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:- Grows widely in stony, limey ground among pine trees; in olive groves and

in dry open shrubby vegetation.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete and E. Aegean. Eastern and central Crete from sea

level to 700 m.

Flowering time:- Jan-Mar.

Photo by:- Julia Cross