Günther's Web Site - Arachnitiforme Ophrys in Western Europe

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis

Passionis was described in 1926 by SENNEN, long time before NELSON described the next-related Ophrys garganica subsp. garganica invalidly from Italy in 1962. Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis means the Northern Spanish as well as Southern and Western French populations of the orchid, which according to PAULUS (Jour.Eur.Orch.31(2)) is pollinated by Andrena pilipes (formerly: carbonaria).

In 2006 in Natural. belges 87 (Orchid. 19): 228-251 Devillers and Devillers-Terschuren stated that Ophrys passionis SENNEN is the correct name for the archnitiformis s.l. populations in lowlands of Languedoc and Catalogne. The species shown here, which up to then had been named Ophrys passionis, was recombined to the new name Ophrys caloptera.

In the region of Ezcaray at the border of the Northern Spanish provinces La Rioja and Burgos the species does not rarely have a coloured perianth, the sepals are usually white. In this area there are many plants with rather small lip.

There are plants in Northwest France with pink perigon, see L'Orchidophile 21(91) + 27(124)p.227f.

A touch towards Ophrys provincialis has the population near Martigues, from which the last two images are coming.

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
E La Rioja, Ezcaray 23.5.2003

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: F Cavaillon 5.5.2004
right: F Causse Noir 6.6.2004

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: F Massif de l'Estaque 17.4.1999
right: F Les Baux 24.4.1999

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: F Bouches du Rhone, Orgon 13.4.2004
right: F Istres 26.3.2001

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: F Causse du Larzac 5.6.2004
right: F Causse du Larzac 19.5.2002

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: F Carcassonne 10.4.2004
right: E Catalunya Bassella 2.5.1988

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
E La Rioja, Ezcaray 23.5.2003

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
left: E La Rioja, Ezcaray 27.5.2002
right: E La Rioja, Ezcaray 23.5.2003

Ophrys garganica subsp. passionis
F Massif de l'Estaque 11.4.2004



Start page Contents	Rev: 2-Mar-2005

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