A wild orchid with brown or dark flowers, found in garigue and open scrub and in flower in February and March. It is strictly protected by law. Its status as a separate species is still being checked.
The Maltese brown orchid grows on garigue, steppe and sometimes open maquis, and flowers in February and March. Its flowers are brown or dark.
The Online Flora of the Maltese Islands marks its status for Malta as uncertain (subendemic?). Its Euro+Med listing is included with Ophrys fusca, so it is not counted as a separate species there. The reference site is still checking this.
It is strictly protected by law (Schedule VI of S.L. 549.44).
How to help
Do not pick, dig up or trample wild orchids.
Text: Online Flora of the Maltese Islands (Stephen Mifsud). Edited by the Editorial Team.
Photo: Foto: pl3qw3.
