The Gargano Ophrys I thought surely must be an endemic but it is also found in Sardinia and Sicily as well as Italy. The sepals are always green but the two upright petals have wavy edges and can be green or a browny-reddish colour.

Taxonomy: This is yet another Ophrys promoted to species rank by some authors who cannot bear the thought of sub species. The local Gargano Orchid flora by Giovanni Quitadamo and Angela Rossini (Orchidee Spontanee nel Parco Nazionale del Gargano) names this as Ophrys garganica O. & E. Danesch but the mighty Pierre Delforge is closer to the establishment databases in that he calls it Ophrys passionis var garganica (E. Nelson ex O.Danesch & E.Danesch) P Delforge.

Meanwhile back in the Kew taxonomic laboratory a loud harumphing can be heard as they denounce these new fangled inventions in favour of naming this species as a sub species of Early Spider Orchid: Ophrys sphegodes ssp passionis (Sennen) Sanz & Nuet.

Ophrys sphegodes ssp passionis Gargano Ophrys Field near Monte St Angelo, Gargano, 24th April 2009 Previous   Next

Ophrys sphegodes ssp passionis

LHS: Near Bosco Quarto Forest, Gargano, 20th April 2009 RHS: Near Monte St Angelo, 22nd April 2009

Added on January 15th 2010, updated 21st January 2011