The Orchids.

We are very lucky where we are based to be within striking distance of the sierra's around Granada, the coastal sierra's of Malaga Province and the mountains of Ronda and Grazalema, all of which abound with different species of orchid.
The season starts in January with some of the more uncommon species in the Fusca group (Ophrys Malacitana, Ophrys forestieri and Ophrys dyris) flowering very early, these are quickly followed by the large and variable Giant Orchid (Barlia / Himantoglossum robertiana) and Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina). Down in the coastal pine woodlands in March a fantastic show includes the very rare Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica), Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla), Woodcock (Ophrys Scolopax) and Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea). Slightly later we start to get the Dark Spider  (Ophrys incubacea), Bumble-bee (Ositos / Ophrys bombyliflora), Conical (Orchis conica), Italian Man (Orchis italica), Lady (Orchis purpurea), Lange's (Orchis langei) and Small Woodcock Orchids (Ophrys picta) all putting on quite a display.

View my Orchid web album here.

In the sierra's the orchids come a little bit later in the season but are no less showy and include some of my favorites such as Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), Algerian Butterfly (Plantanthera algeriensis), Algarve Bee (Ophrys algarviensis), Barton's (Dactylorhiza insularis), Orchis cazorlensis and Lizard Orchids (Himantoglossum hircinum). Some of the latest flowering are the Epipactis family of which we have several representatives of in the area including Epipactis fageticola, tremolsii, Epipactis kleinii, Epipactis cardina and Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla).
The season runs right through the summer and into the autumn and finishes with the beautiful Autumn Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) in September or October. During the season (in a good year) we may be lucky enough to see over 60 species, subspecies and Hybrids including some very beautiful and rare plants.

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

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