Now that it is spring here in Extremadura, Spain, I have been out looking for flowering plants. The lavenders, brooms, Euphorbias and Irises have been putting on a spectacular show, but I must admit I have a favorite: the orchids. There is something about finding orchids in the wild that is special. Its as if they in perfect focus and everything else is a little blurry. I was on the hunt for Ophrys, but instead I found two orchids from the original orchid genus: Orchis.
If you are interested here is a great guide on the orchids of Extremadura. Its a free downloadable PDF. Jost go the the link and click where it says "Guia Completa" Its all in Spanish but it is full of photos of every species.
retamatour.com - Proyecto Orquídea - index.
The first three photos are
Orchis conica
I found this one growing all over the mountainside. There was thousands of them, most were pink with deep purple spots on the lip and brownish striping inside the two dorsal petals which are not visible from the outside. Some where nearly all white with no spots on the lip and only a light lavender color on the petals and sepals. These seemed to be loners and I only saw a few blooming two spikes on the same plant. I found one plant which was already developing pods and even one with two flowers fused together.
the last two are
Orchis champagneuxii
I found a few of these growing alone but the majority were found in two massive colonies (Photo) with hundreds of rosettes covering the ground for about a square meter. It was still early for these and most were still in bud.
Two Orchis species in Spain
) I imagine the alps are sooo beautiful too! Good luck and you will know when I find the Ophrys because ill be so exited ill post them the minute I get home!
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