Orchids on Lesvos

Right: Limodorum abortivum, Achladeri Apr 04

Here is a list of orchids found on Lesvos -

Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine)
Epipactis microphylla (Small-leaved Helleborine)
Cephalanthera damasonium (Large White Helleborine)
Cephalanthera rubra (Red Helleborine)
Cephalanthera longifolia (Sword-leaved Helleborine)
Cephalanthera epipactoides (Spurred Helleborine)
Limodorum abortivum (Violet Limodore)
Limodorum abortivum var. rubrum
Limodorum abortivum var. albiflorum
Listera ovata (Twayblade)
Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn Lady's Tresses)
Platanthera holmboei (Holmboë's Butterfly)
Dactylorhiza romana (Roman Orchid)
Dactylorhiza romana var. albifora
Comperia comperiana (Komper's Orchid)
Neotinea maculata (Dense-flowered Orchid)
Aceras anthropophorum (Man Orchid)
Orchis coriophora (Bug Orchid)
Orchis sancta (Holy Orchid)
Orchis sancta var. alba
Orchis laxiflora (Loose-flowered Orchid)
Orchis palustris (Bog Orchid)
Orchis pinetorum (Pinewood Orchid)
Orchis provincialis (Provence Orchid)
Orchis anatolica (Anatolian Orchid)
Orchis collina (Fan-lipped Orchid)
Orchis collina var. albiflora
Orchis papilionacea ssp. heroica (Pink Butterfly Orchid)
Orchis papilionacea ssp. heroica var. alba
Orchis papilionacea ssp. heroica var. rubra
Orchis quadripunctata (Four-spotted Orchid)
Orchis morio ssp. morio (Green-winged Orchid)
Orchis morio ssp. morio var. albiflora
Orchis morio ssp. picta
Orchis tridentata (Toothed Orchid)
Orchis lactea (Milky Orchid)
Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid)
Orchis italica (Naked Man Orchid)
Orchis italica var. albiflora
Orchis simia (Monkey Orchid)
Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid)
Anacamptis pyramidalis var. albiflora
Barlia robertiana (Giant Orchid)
Himantoglossum caprinum (Balkan Lizard Orchid)
Himantoglossum affine (Eastern Lizard Orchid)
Himantoglossum montis-tauri
Serapias cordigera (Heart-flowered Orchid)
Serapias vomeracea (Plough-share Orchid)
Serapias orientalis ssp. carica (Eastern Orchid)
Serapias parviflora (Small-flowered Orchid)
Ophrys fusca (Dull Orchid)
Ophrys attaviria
Ophrys iricolor (Rainbow Orchid)
Ophrys sitiaca (Omega Orchid)
Ophrys sicula (Yellow Orchid)
Ophrys phryganae (Yellow Orchid)
Ophrys tenthredinifera (Sawfly Orchid)
Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid)
Ophrys speculum or vernixia ssp. orientalis (Mirror Orchid)
Ophrys bombyliflora (Bumble Bee Orchid)
Ophrys reinholdii (Reinhold's Orchid)
Ophrys umbilicata (Carmel Orchid)
Ophrys attica (Carmel Orchid)
Ophrys bucephala (Carmel Orchid)
Ophrys cornutula (Woodcock Orchid)
Ophrys minutula (Woodcock Orchid)
Ophrys oestrifera (Woodcock Orchid)
Ophrys lesbis (Lesbos Orchid)
Ophrys ferrum-equinum (Horse-shoe Orchid)
Ophrys labiosa (Horse-shoe Orchid)
Ophrys holoserica (Late Spider Orchid)
Ophrys homeri (Homer's Orchid)
Ophrys candica (Kandia's Orchid)
Ophrys spruneri (Spruner's Orchid)
Ophrys aesculapii (Aesculapius Orchid)
Ophrys mammosa (Mammosa Orchid)

Many species can be found around Agiasos. For further information see here.

Orchids of Lesvos by Brian and Eileen Anderson (left) is available and although in Greek is useful.

Other Lesvos orchid information:
Hibiscus
Paulmps' flickr album (78 photos)



My thanks to Paul Manning for his help in compiling this list.