Günther's Web Site - Arachnitiforme Ophrys in Western Europe

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 8.3.2000
right: F Cassis 7.3.2000

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis
left: F Maures, Pierrefeu 19.3.1999
right: F Maures, Pierrefeu 12.4.2004

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis
left: F Dept. Var, Carqueiranne 6.3.2000
right: F Breil-sur-Roya 12.4.2004

Eastern Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis
I Imperia 16.4.2001



Start page Contents	Rev: 20-Apr-2004

Arachnitiforme Ophrys in Western Europe

Introduction
Comparison of Stigmatic Caves



Ophrys ...
... sipontensis				x
... garganica				x	x	x
... passionis	x	x
... majellensis				x
... castri-caesaris		x		x
... incubacea	x	x		x	x	x
... brutia				x
... minipassionis				x
... classica				x
... sphegodes	x	x	x	x
... massiliensis		x		x
... araneola		x	x	?
... virescens	?	x		?
... argensonensis		x
... illyrica				?
... tommasinii				?
'small from Gargano'				x
'early near Naples'				x
... riojana	x
... argentaria				x
... tarquinia				x
'western arachnitif.'	x	x
... arachnitiformis		x		x
... splendida		x		x
... aveyronensis	x	x
... castellana	x
... tyrrhena				x
... cilentana				x
... archipelagi				x
... mateolana				x
... cephalonica
... exaltata				x		x
... panormitana						x
... praecox					x
... morisii					x
... provincialis		x
... panattensis					x
... lunulata						x
... tarentina				x
... promontorii				x
... melitensis



Arachnitiforme Ophrys in Western Europe

EasternOphrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis

Eastern
Ophrys exaltata subsp. arachnitiformis