2. For this Slideshow the Eastern Mediterranean extends from the Gargano Promontory to Cyprus O O The majority of orchids illustrated have their western limits in this area; the range of some extend further east into Iran etc.
3. Gargano has a wonderful orchid flora, this is the habitat of Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sipontensis
30. Ophrys fuciflora subsp . lacaitae A native of Gargano, these were photographed on Sicily.
31. To Crete, an island once well forested, now reduced to expanses of this degraded vegetation, often called phrygana, but the habitat of Ophrys fusca subsp. iricolor.
65. Also amongst these spiny shrubs was another orchid, similar in appearance, to O. ferrum-equinum, with which it intergrades when the ranges overlap. It is…..
72. subsp . cornuta subsp . heldreichii It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between these two where their ranges overlap.
73. Orchis simia is a widespread European orchid, but these fine specimens dominated a wonderful orchid site in the Peloponnese that supported the Ophrys gems that appear shortly.