~Ophrys exaltata Tenore 1819 - See Ophrys sphegodes Miller 1768 Photo courtesy of P.-M. Blais and the Orchids of France and Europe

Common Name The High Ophyrs

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

A medium sized, cold growing terrestrial orchid that comes from Italy and Sicily in short grasslands, garrigue, scrub, roadbanks, abandoned cultivation and open woodlands at elevations up to 800 meters that blooms in the spring on a dense to near lax, to 12.8" [32 cm] long, 4 to 15 flowered inflorescence .

Synonyms Ophrys arachnites var. panormitana Todaro; Ophrys castellana Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers 1988; Ophrys cilentana Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers 2000; Ophrys exaltata subsp. castellana (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers 2002; Ophrys exaltata subsp. cephalonica (B.Baumann & H.Baumann) Soca 2002; Ophrys exaltata subsp. marzuola Geniez, Melki & Soca 2002; Ophrys exaltata subsp. montis-leonis (O.Danesch & E.Danesch) Soca 2002; Ophrys exaltata subsp. sicula Del Prete, nom. illeg.; Ophrys exaltata subsp. tyrrhena (Gölz & H.R.Reinhard) Del Prete in C.Del Prete & G.Tosi 1988; Ophrys fuciflora subsp. exaltata (Ten.) E.Nelson 1962; Ophrys holoserica subsp. exaltata (Ten.) H.Sund. 1975; Ophrys montis-leonis O.Danesch & E.Danesch 1972; Ophrys sphegodes subsp. cephalonica B.Baumann & H.Baumann 1984; Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sicula Nelson ex Soó 1978; Ophrys sphegodes var. sicula (E.Nelson ex Soó) Galesi 2004; Ophrys trinacrica Del Prete ?

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 53 No 2 1984 photo; Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East Delforge 2005; Ophyrs The Bee Orchids of Europe Pederson & Faurholdt 2007

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