Orchis olbiensis Southern Early Purple Orchid
On a delightful bank by the El Burgo valley path, there was a patch of various species of orchid. The little patch of this species was hiding in the shade of some bushes and looked a little different to any others around.
Taxonomy: There is no general agreement about the name of this plant. World Checklist, Delforge and others say Orchis olbiensis Reut. ex Gren. is the correct, accepted name but Kew and Catalogue of Life insist that it is Orchis mascula ssp mascula (no author). This confusion reflects my own because I thought at first it was a light coloured Orchis mascula and then discovered that the strongly upturned spur and pale colour with unspotted leaves are characteristics of Orchis olbiensis.
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| Orchis olbiensis whole | Orchis olbiensis floret |
On a bank by the El Burgo river valley path, El Burgo, Spain 31st March 2008
Added on 26th January 2010, updated 21st January 2011