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The next day we headed up into the Troodos mountains in the hope that we would see some different species. Trrodos is said to have its unique species. We actually reached Platres (altitude 1078 metres) without seeing a stopping place with signs of orchids, and boy! Was it cold up there! We continued to Troodos itself (1725 metres) and they were still in the grip of snow still. so no hope for any orchids up there! We did the descent a different way and heading for some known (and unknown) sites. Nowhere, 16th March 2017 Leaving the 812 at Agyos Mamas (Patron Saint of tax avoidance!) we took a narrow un-numbered lane heading for Kato Chorio. Halfway along more Barlia robertsiana were spotted on a steeply terraced olive grove. These were a nice lilac shade and the size can be judged by comparing the size of the leaves and the grass. Again the altitude of 510 metres meant this species was still in full flower at this date. Sadly, a search around yielded nothing else
Paraskevi Picnic site, 16th March 2017 I `needed' to find this place after the no-show up Troodos, because this has records of the very species I was looking for, and is at an altitude of 590 metres (2000 feet). It did not disappoint, even though the sign at the entrance gave a totally different name! The grid references matched. As a bonus it was a picnic site with public toilets! There were tracks leading off in all directions and we tried a few with no success. But, taking what was a drivable track (on foot) with a bank to the left we found some Orchis troodi peeking over the top about 12 feet above the road. These varied in colour from near white to pale purple, with one deep coloured oddity. This species has spotted leaves (tick) and an upward curving spur. Some of these have the spur horizontal (first picture) which is the preserve of similar species Orchis anatolica (some put the former as a subspecies of the latter). Both have nice deep reddish coloured stems. How likely is it that the two grow side by side?
Continuing along the track looking for somewhere to clamber up we came across the lovely yellow Dactylorhiza romana also above us. Getting up there was not easy. It was a bit steep, there had been recent rain, the soil and pine needles slipped beneath the feet, and the pine trees ensured it was cool and dark. No pink forms of this were seen, but it is said only the yellow exists on Cyprus.
The slow climb up though had an added bonus. Going slow and watching the ground meant I didn't miss a rosette of what I presumed to be Epipactis troodi. No sign of a spike yet, but it may not flower until July. Identification was based on the leaves being purple blotched. Nearby was a seed head from 2016 that could well have been the same species.
Gerasa 16th March 2017 This was meant to be the next site, but there was a likely spot two kilometres outside the village. Behind the crash barrier on one side of the road was a group of more Barlia robertsiana. These, compared to others seen, were less impressive and that may be due to the possibility of being where water drains off the road leading to local transient flooding. There were others though, including a nice group of three in the pale olive shade, and one with pale pink shading to pale green flowers. Across the road though all that could be found was more Ophrys flavomarginata.
By the time we got to the Gerasa site the traditional mid-afternoon rain had commenced. I checked my notes, found only one recorded species there that I hadn't seen before, and we decided a coffee and comfort break was more important than sitting waiting for the clouds to disperse. This gave the opportunity to stop at the Kourion woodlands again on the return to Paphos. Paphos Archaeology Sites 17th March 2017 Specifically these are Paleaopaphos, Tombs of the Kings, and Maa Paleokastria. Very similar sites, close to sea level, with ruins and excavations dating back to pre-Hellenic times, right up to the Frankish occupation. All three sites had the same two species, Orchis collina well and truly finished, and Ophrys umbilicata beginning to go over - in best condition and highest numbers in a dip north of the lighthouse at Paleaopaphos where they were protected on the seaward side. When the Orchis collina were in flower they would have been quite a sight. The O. umbilicata had a range of sepal colouration from pink to white with green veining, and atypically with green sepals occasionally; are these Ophrys attica?.
Pegeia Forest north, 13th March 2017 A return visit to round off Cyprus orchids but this time exploring the woodland on the opposite side of the road to the picnic site. Alas it was much the same in terms of orchid flora again apart from two exceptions. First was the finding of a new species to my list, Ophrys funerea. Second was in an olive grove just beyond the pines. A single Orchis collina was still just about in flower, possibly due to the altitude of the site at 360 metres.
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