Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica (Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis) Kreutz
Kompend. Eur. Orchid. 104 (2004)
Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Ophrys fusca subs. iricolor (Desf.) K.Richt.
Pl. Eur. 1: 261 (1890). Gürke

Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica Photo by: Amante Darmanin
Blooming habit at Dingli cliffs, Malta, 05/01/2017

Origin and Habitat: Ophrys mesariticaSN|35033]]SN|35033]] has a disjunct range in Southern Crete, Malta and on Lesbos. In Crete, it is growing on Asteroussia mountains and Mesara valley. Its full distribution is not fully known however and it seems likely it will be found to occur on other islands in the southern Aegean basin. The type locality is Crete.

Synonyms:

Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica (Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis) Kreutz

Ophrys mesaritica Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis

See all synonyms of Ophrys fusca

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca Link
J. Bot. (Schrader) 1799(2): 324 (1800).
Synonymy: 141

Ophrys fusca Link

Arachnites v (Link) Tod.
Ophrys fabrella Paulus & Ayasse ex P.Delforge

Ophrys africana G.Foelsche & W.Foelsche
Ophrys aranifera subs. moesziana Soó

Ophrys sphegodes subs. moesziana (Soó) Maire

Ophrys bilunulata subs. kalirachiensis Paulus, M.Hirth & Dimadis
Ophrys decembris S.Moingeon & J.-M.Moingeon
Ophrys dianica M.R.Lowe, Piera, M.B.Crespo & J.E.Arnold
Ophrys ficuzzana H.Baumann & Künkele
Ophrys forestieri Lojac.
Ophrys fusca subs. akhdarensis B.Baumann & H.Baumann

Ophrys akhdarensis (B.Baumann & H.Baumann) P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. arnoldii (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys arnoldii P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. attaviria (D.Rückbr., U.Rückbr., Wenker & S.Wenker) Kreutz

Ophrys attaviria D.Rückbr., U.Rückbr., Wenker & S.Wenker

Ophrys fusca subs. bilunulata (Risso) Kreutz

Ophrys bilunulata Risso

Ophrys fusca subs. caesiella (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys bilunulata subs. caesiella (P.Delforge) Paulus
Ophrys caesiella P.Delforge
Ophrys marmorata subs. caesiella (P.Delforge) Véla & R.Martin

Ophrys fusca subs. calocaerina (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys calocaerina Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. cesmeensis (Kreutz) Kreutz

Ophrys attaviria subs. cesmeensis Kreutz
Ophrys attaviria var. cesmeensis (Kreutz) P.Delforge
Ophrys cesmeensis (Kreutz) P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. clara (F.M.Vázquez & S.Ramos) F.M.Vázquez

Ophrys clara F.M.Vázquez & S.Ramos

Ophrys fusca subs. creberrima (Paulus) H.Kretzschmar

Ophrys creberrima Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. cressa (Paulus) H.Kretzschmar

Ophrys cressa Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. creticola (Paulus) H.Kretzschmar

Ophrys creticola Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. delforgei (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys delforgei Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca var. distincta F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca subs. eptapigiensis (Paulus) Kreutz

Ophrys attaviria f. eptapigiensis (Paulus) P.Delforge
Ophrys eptapigiensis Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. fabrella (Paulus & Ayasse ex P.Delforge) Kreutz
Ophrys fusca subs. flammeola (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys flammeola P.Delforge
Ophrys subfusca subs. flammeola (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys fusca var. funerea (Viv.) Arcangeli

Ophrys funerea Viv.
Ophrys fusca subs. funerea (Viv.) Nyman
Ophrys fusca f. funerea (Viv.) Bolzon
Ophrys lutea subs. funerea (Viv.) Battandier

Ophrys fusca subs. gackiae (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys gackiae P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. gazella (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys gazella Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. hespera (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys hespera Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. laureotica Kalog., Delipetrou & A.Alibertis
Ophrys fusca subs. leucadica (Renz) H.Kretzschmar

Ophrys leucadica Renz

Ophrys fusca subs. limensis F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca subs. lindia (Paulus) Kreutz

Ophrys lindia Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. lindleyana F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca subs. lucana (P.Delforge, Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys lucana P.Delforge, Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. lucentina (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys lucentina P.Delforge
Ophrys subfusca subs. lucentina (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys fusca subs. lucifera (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys lucifera Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. lupercalis (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys lupercalis Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca lusus ramosis F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca var. lutea F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca var. lutescens F.M.Vázquez
Ophrys fusca var. maculata Balayer
Ophrys fusca subs. maghrebiaca Kreutz, Rebbas, Babali, Miara & Ait-Hamm.

Ophrys maghrebiaca (Kreutz, Rebbas, Babali, Miara & Ait-Hamm.) P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. marmorata (G.Foelsche & W.Foelsche) Kreutz

Ophrys marmorata G.Foelsche & W.Foelsche

Ophrys fusca subs. minima Balayer
Ophrys fusca f. minor Lojac.
Ophrys fusca subs. ortuabis (M.P.Grasso & Manca) Kreutz

Ophrys ortuabis M.P.Grasso & Manca

Ophrys fusca subs. parosica (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys parosica P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. parvula (Paulus) Kreutz

Ophrys parvula Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. peraiolae (G.Foelsche, W.Foelsche, M.Gerbaud & O.Gerbaud) Kreutz

Ophrys peraiolae G.Foelsche, W.Foelsche, M.Gerbaud & O.Gerbaud

Ophrys fusca subs. perpusilla (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys perpusilla Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys fusca subs. persephonae (Paulus) Kreutz

Ophrys persephonae Paulus
Ophrys subfusca subs. persephonae (Paulus) Kreutz

Ophrys fusca subs. phaseliana (D.Rückbr. & U.Rückbr.) Kreutz

Ophrys parosica var. phaseliana (D.Rückbr. & U.Rückbr.) P.Delforge
Ophrys phaseliana D.Rückbr. & U.Rückbr.

Ophrys fusca subs. proxima (C.E.Hermos., Benito & Soca) F.M.Vázquez

Ophrys proxima C.E.Hermos., Benito & Soca

Ophrys fusca var. rubescens Balayer
Ophrys fusca subs. sabulosa (Paulus & Gack ex P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys sabulosa Paulus & Gack ex P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca subs. sancti-isidorii A.Saliaris, Saliaris & A.Alibertis

Ophrys bilunulata subs. sancti-isidorii (A.Saliaris, Saliaris & A.Alibertis) Paulus
Ophrys sancti-isidorii (A.Saliaris, Saliaris & A.Alibertis) P.Delforge

Ophrys fusca var. subfusca (Rchb.f.) Rchb.

Ophrys lutea subs. subfusca (Rchb.f.) Murb.
Ophrys lutea var. subfusca Rchb.f.
Ophrys subfusca (Rchb.f.) Hausskn.

Ophrys fusca subs. thracica Kreutz

Ophrys attaviria f. thracica (Kreutz) P.Delforge
Ophrys thracica (Kreutz) Devillers & Devillers-Tersch.

Ophrys fusca subs. thriptiensis (Paulus) H.Kretzschmar

Ophrys thriptiensis Paulus

Ophrys fusca subs. zonata (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz

Ophrys zonata Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys iricolor subs. lojaconoi (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys lojaconoi P.Delforge

Ophrys kedra Paulus
Ophrys laetea Willk. & Lange
Ophrys lindleyana H.Fleischm. ex G.Keller & Soó
Ophrys malacitana M.R.Lowe, I.Phillips & Paulus
Ophrys meropes P.Delforge
Ophrys myodes Lapeyr.
Ophrys pallidula Paulus
Ophrys pelinaea P.Delforge
Ophrys peraiolae var. rubra G.Foelsche, W.Foelsche, M.Gerbaud & O.Gerbaud
Ophrys phaidra Paulus
Ophrys pseudomigoutiana R.Martin, Véla & Ouni
Ophrys punctulata Renz

Ophrys bilunulata subs. punctulata (Renz) Paulus

Ophrys rueckbrodtiana W.Hahn
Ophrys subfusca subs. laurensis (Geniez & Melki) Kreutz

Ophrys laurensis Geniez & Melki
Ophrys lutea subs. laurensis (Geniez & Melki) Kreutz

Ophrys sulcata Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers
Ophrys theophrasti Devillers & Devillers-Tersch.
Ophrys tricolor Desf. ex Nyman

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca subs. blitopertha (Paulus & Gack) Faurh. & H.A.Pedersen
Orchidee (Hamburg) 53: 345 (2002).
Synonymy: 3

Ophrys fusca subs. blitopertha (Paulus & Gack) Faurh. & H.A.Pedersen

Ophrys blitopertha Paulus & Gack
Ophrys subfusca subs. blitopertha (Paulus & Gack) Kreutz

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca var. blitopertha (Paulus & Gack) Faurh. & H.A.Pedersen
Orchidee (Hamburg) 53: 345 (2002).

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca subs. cinereophila (Paulus & Gack) Faurh.
Orchidee (Hamburg) 53: 345 (2002).
Synonymy: 3

Ophrys fusca subs. cinereophila (Paulus & Gack) Faurh.

Ophrys cinereophila Paulus & Gack
Ophrys subfusca subs. cinereophila (Paulus & Gack) Kreutz

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca subs. iricolor (Desf.) K.Richt.
Pl. Eur. 1: 261 (1890).
Synonymy: 20

Ophrys fusca subs. iricolor (Desf.) K.Richt.

Ophrys fusca var. iricolor (Desf.) Rchb.
Ophrys fusca f. iricolor (Desf.) Soó
Ophrys iricolor Desf.

Ophrys achillis P.Delforge
Ophrys fusca var. forestieri Rchb.f.

Ophrys fusca subs. forestieri (Rchb.f.) Kreutz
Ophrys fusca f. forestieri (Rchb.f.) Soó

Ophrys iricolor subs. astypalaeica (P.Delforge) Kreutz

Ophrys astypalaeica P.Delforge

Ophrys iricolor subs. eleonorae (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Paulus & Gack

Ophrys eleonorae Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Ophrys iricolor subs. hospitalis (P.Delforge) Mifsud & L.Lewis

Ophrys hospitalis P.Delforge

Ophrys iricolor subs. maxima (A.Terracc.) Paulus & Gack

Ophrys fusca var. maxima A.Terracc.

Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica (Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis) Kreutz

Ophrys mesaritica Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis

Ophrys iricolor subs. vallesiana (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Paulus & Gack

Ophrys vallesiana Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca subs. pallida (Raf.) E.G.Camus
Iconogr. Orchid. Europe 293 (1929).
Synonymy: 9

Ophrys fusca subs. pallida (Raf.) E.G.Camus

Arachnites pallidus (Raf.) Tod.
Ophrys fusca var. pallida (Raf.) Rchb.f.
Ophrys pallida Raf.

Ophrys fusca subs. obaesa (Lojac.) E.G.Camus

Ophrys obaesa Lojac.

Ophrys fusca subs. pectus (Mutel) Kreutz

Ophrys pectus Mutel

Ophrys intermedia Tineo ex Lojac.

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ophrys fusca var. pallida (Raf.) E.G.Camus
Iconogr. Orchid. Europe 293 (1929).

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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Cretan Blue Orchid

Description: Ophrys mesariticaSN|35030]]SN|35033]] (Syn: Ophrys iricolor subs. mesariticaSN|35029]]SN|35029]]) is an extremely rare orchid belonging to the the Ophrys iricolorSN|35033]]SN|35030]] group. It is distinguished from O. iricolor by the much earlier flowering time and the shorter lip (mean difference of 1-3 mm). Also, the stem is higher and the flowers are more hanging and brownish underneath. The species common name is the Cretan Blue Orchid but this is perhaps somewhat complimentary to an orchid that although possessing a pleasing architectural form, is in fact a rather small and dull flower. The speculum is a steely grey, often marbled with black or dark brown and quite unlike the sometimes extravagant colouration and markings of O. iricolor. Although the range of the two species overlap, they are unlikely to be confused due to the very early flowering (from December to March) of O. mesaritica (1-2 months earlier than O. iricolor). Previously this species was regarded as purely an early flowering O. iricolor and there are those that still hold to this view. Both species are large, robust plants but the flower size difference and general morphology seem to make this link improbable. Another important distinguishing feature between the two species (if one is needed) is the colouration of the underside of the lip which in O. iricolor is always pale purple but variably green/brown in O. mesaritica.
Derivation of specific name: O. mesaratica was first described from Crete in 1990 and it takes its name from the plain of Mesara in the south of the island.
Taxonomic notes: O. iricolor and O. mesaritica are a pair of morphologically similar, closely related sexually deceptive orchids. O. iricolor is known to be pollinated by Andrena morio males and the specific pollinator of O. mesaritica is determined as Andrena nigroaenea. Amplified fragment length polymorphism revealed O. iricolor and O. mesaritica to be genetically intermixed on the whole, although populations of O. iricolor and O. mesaritica in geographical proximity are strongly differentiated, suggesting that specific pollinators locally differentiate these taxa.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ophrys fusca group

Ophrys fusca Link
Ophrys fusca var. blitopertha (Paulus & Gack) Faurh. & H.A.Pedersen
Ophrys fusca subs. cinereophila (Paulus & Gack) Faurh.
Ophrys fusca subs. iricolor (Desf.) K.Richt.
Ophrys fusca var. pallida (Raf.) E.G.Camus
Ophrys iricolor subs. hospitalis (P.Delforge) Mifsud & L.Lewis: (O. fusca subs. iricolor) Distribution:
Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica (Paulus, C.Alibertis & A.Alibertis) Kreutz: (O. fusca subs. iricolor) Distribution: Southern Crete, Malta and on Lesbos.

Bibliography: Bibliography:
1) Delforge,P. 1993. "Remarques sur les Orchidées précoces de l'île de Malte". Natural. belges 74 (Orchid. 6): 93-106.
2) Misfud, S. & Lewis, L. 2011. "Recent observations on Ophrys-species and hybrids of the Maltese Archipelago". J. Eur. Orch. 43: 609-650.
3) Paulus,H.F., Alibertis, C. & A. 1990. "Ophrys mesaritica H.F. Paulus und C. & A. Alibertis spec. nov. aus Kreta, eine neue Art aus dem Ophrys fusca - iricolor - Artenkreis". Mitt. Bl. Arbeitskr. Heim. Orch. Baden-Württ. 22: 772-787.
4) Ophrys mesaritica in: Orchids of Britain and Europe. Web: http://www.orchidsofbritainandeuropetest.uk/Ophrys%20mesaritica.html
5) Ophrys mesaritica in: ΟΡΧΙΔΕΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ, web: http://www.greekorchids.gr/op_mesaritica.htm
6) James Mast de Maeght “A1. O. iricolor group” in Ophrys web: http://www.ophrys-genus.be/a1.htm
7) SCHLÜTER, P. M., RUAS, P. M., KOHL, G., RUAS, C. F., STUESSY, T. F. and PAULUS, H. F. (2009), "Genetic patterns and pollination in Ophrys iricolor and O. mesaritica (Orchidaceae): sympatric evolution by pollinator shift". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 159: 583–598. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00957.x

Ophrys mesaritica, blooming habit at Dingli cliffs, Malta, 05/01/2017 Photo by: Amante Darmanin

Ophrys mesaritica, blooming habit at Dingli cliffs, Malta, 05/01/2017 Photo by: Amante Darmanin

Ophrys mesaritica, foliage at Dingli cliffs, Malta, 05/01/2017 Photo by: Amante Darmanin

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Cite this page: "Ophrys iricolor subs. mesaritica" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 08 May 2024. </Encyclopedia/PLANT/Family/Orchidaceae/35029/Ophrys_iricolor_subs._mesaritica>