Eastern
Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis  

Very early flowering orchids, which for many years have been called arachnitiformis, are found between northeastern Spain and western Liguria, however mainly along the French Mediterranean coast. According to the investigations of PAULUS and GACK (1999) in Jour.Eur.Orch.31(2) the orchids are pollinated by the bee Colletes cunicularius.

As already described on the previous page, there are attempts to split the western partial population with its usually green perigon from the eastern one which has usually white to pink sepals. arachnitiformis has been described from the French departement Var, which is situated in the eastern part of the area. These orchids are distributed between the eastern Languedoc in France and western Liguria in Italy. I don't think that the separation makes sense, because the transitions are floating.

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis left:   F Frontignan 8.3.00 right: F Cassis 7.3.00

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis left:   F Pierrefeu 19.3.99 right: F Pierrefeu 12.4.04

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis left:   F Hyères 7.3.00 right: F Breil-sur-Roya 12.4.04

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis I Imperia 16.4.01

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