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LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ
Photos Akamas 25/3/2021 by George Konstantinou
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Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica (Gölz & H.R.Reinhard) Faurh.
≡ Ophrys lapethica Gölz & H.R.Reinhard – Lapithos bee orchid – Near-endemic to Cyprus
Text: George Konstantinou
The Lapithos bee orchid of Cyprus
Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica is an impressive wild orchid of Cyprus, also known by its former scientific name Ophrys lapethica. It belongs to the genus Ophrys, one of the most distinctive and taxonomically complex groups of terrestrial orchids in the Mediterranean.
In Cyprus, it is known in Greek as “Ophrys i lapithiki” or simply “melissaki”. Its flowers, as in other bee orchids, resemble the body of an insect in their shape, colour and hairiness. This resemblance is not accidental but forms part of a highly specialized pollination mechanism.
For several years, the plant was considered endemic to Cyprus. However, the current Flora of Cyprus – a dynamic checklist characterizes it as near-endemic because it also reports its presence in Anatolia, Turkey. For this reason, the more accurate modern description is “near-endemic to Cyprus” rather than strictly “endemic to Cyprus”.
The origin of the name
The name of the genus Ophrys comes from the Ancient Greek word “ὀφρύς”, meaning “eyebrow”. The name is probably associated with the hairy, velvety margin of the labellum that characterizes many members of the genus.
The specific epithet umbilicata comes from the Latin word umbilicus, meaning “navel”, and refers to a morphological feature of the flower.
The name lapethica refers to Lapithos in the Kyrenia District. The plant was originally described as a separate species under the name Ophrys lapethica by Peter Gölz and Hans R. Reinhard. The original name was published in 1989.
Its association with Lapithos gives this orchid a special place in the natural history of Cyprus. Its scientific name preserves the geographical reference to the locality from which it became known to science, even after its transfer to the rank of subspecies.
A species or a subspecies?
The classification of plants belonging to the genus Ophrys is extremely complex. Their floral morphology displays considerable variability, while their close dependence on particular pollinators may lead to the differentiation of local populations. For this reason, different specialists may treat the same plant as a separate species, a subspecies or part of a broader complex.
The Lapithos bee orchid was originally described as Ophrys lapethica Gölz & H.R.Reinhard. Under the current taxonomic treatment followed by Plants of the World Online of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this name is considered a synonym of the accepted name Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica (Gölz & H.R.Reinhard) Faurh.
The names Gölz and H.R.Reinhard appear inside parentheses because these authors originally described the plant under a different taxonomic combination. The abbreviation Faurh. refers to Niels Faurholdt, who made the later combination and placed it as a subspecies of Ophrys umbilicata.
The use of the name Ophrys lapethica does not, therefore, refer to a different plant. It represents the earlier or alternative taxonomic treatment of the same plant. In a modern article, it is more appropriate to present the accepted name first and the principal synonym immediately afterwards.
Morphology of the plant
Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica is a perennial, terrestrial and tuberous orchid. During summer, its above-ground parts dry out and disappear, while the plant survives below the ground with the help of its tubers.
The basal rosette appears with the beginning of the wet season. The leaves are simple, entire, green to slightly glaucous and usually ovate or lanceolate. They remain close to the surface of the ground, while smaller leaves may sheathe the flowering stem.
The stem is upright and green. Its height and the number of flowers vary according to the age of the plant, rainfall, soil conditions, competition from the surrounding vegetation and the conditions of the particular locality.
The inflorescence is relatively lax and may bear from a few to several flowers. The flowers open gradually and are not always all at the same stage of development. Buds, fully open flowers and flowers that have begun to age may therefore be observed simultaneously on the same plant.
The characteristic flowers
The sepals are relatively broad and may be green, greenish-white or pale pink. The dorsal sepal is positioned above the column, while the two lateral sepals spread on either side of the flower.
The petals are smaller and narrower than the sepals. Their colour may range from greenish and brownish to pink or violet. Their shape and orientation contribute to the characteristic appearance of the flower.
The labellum is the most impressive and important morphological part of the flower. It is dark, usually brown to deep reddish-brown, and is partly covered with dense, velvety hairs. It is three-lobed, although the separation between the lobes is not always strongly pronounced.
The central part of the labellum is usually narrower at its base and broader towards the apex. This relatively narrow-waisted outline is one of the features used to distinguish it from other related bee orchids.
On the labellum there is a smooth and glossy area known as the speculum or macula. Its pattern may consist of pale lines, curves or more complex formations. Its precise shape and intensity display natural variation between individual plants.
A small appendage is present at the apex of the labellum. Its position, size and orientation may vary, while the appearance of the entire flower is also affected by its age, the angle from which it is viewed and the prevailing environmental conditions.
Why identification requires caution
Identifying orchids of the genus Ophrys from a single photograph is not always reliable. Their flowers display natural variation, while different related taxa may possess overlapping morphological characteristics.
For a more reliable identification, the entire plant, the form of the inflorescence, the shape of the sepals and petals, the dimensions and curvature of the labellum, its hairiness, the speculum and the small apical appendage should all be examined. The flowering season, altitude, habitat and geographical location are also useful.
Natural hybridization presents an additional difficulty. When two related bee orchids flower at the same locality and suitable conditions for pollen transfer exist, hybrid plants with intermediate characteristics may be produced.
The extensive taxonomic splitting of the genus in the past led to the description of many names. More recent taxonomic approaches often unite some of these forms within broader species or subspecies. This explains why the same orchid may appear under different scientific names in books, websites and older publications.
Sexual deception and pollination
Orchids of the genus Ophrys are known for their highly specialized pollination mechanism involving sexual deception. Their flowers do not rely on the production of nectar to attract insects. Instead, they imitate characteristics of female insects.
This mimicry is not limited to the appearance of the flower. The labellum may resemble the shape, hairiness and texture of the female insect’s body, while the flower produces volatile chemical compounds resembling its sexual pheromone signals.
A male insect is attracted to the flower and attempts to mate with it. This behaviour is known as pseudocopulation. During contact with the column, the orchid’s pollinia become attached to the insect’s body. If the insect subsequently visits another flower of the same type, it may transfer the pollen to the stigma and achieve pollination.
Pollination in bee orchids may be highly specialized and depend on a single insect species or a small group of closely related species. The shape of the labellum alone is not sufficient to identify the pollinator reliably.
No adequate published evidence was found confirming precisely which insect species pollinates Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica in Cyprus. It would therefore be scientifically incorrect to name a particular pollinator without direct observation or a reliable bibliographical source.
Tubers and the annual cycle
During active growth, the old underground tuber provides the plant with stored nutrients. At the same time, a new tuber develops and will support the plant’s growth during the following season.
After flowering and, if pollination has been successful, the production of fruits and seeds, the above-ground parts gradually begin to turn yellow and dry. During summer, the orchid may leave no visible trace on the surface of the ground.
The absence of above-ground growth during the dry season does not mean that the plant has died. The orchid remains dormant below the ground until suitable moisture and temperature conditions return.
The timing and extent of its appearance may vary from year to year. Winter rainfall, temperatures and local conditions affect its development and flowering, with the result that a population may appear more numerous in one year and less abundant in another.
Seeds and mycorrhizal fungi
Following successful pollination, the fruit develops in the form of a capsule. It produces a very large number of extremely small and light seeds that can be dispersed by the wind.
Orchid seeds differ considerably from the seeds of many other flowering plants. They possess virtually no stored nutrients and normally cannot begin the development of a new plant independently.
To germinate, they must come into contact with compatible mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. The fungi supply the necessary substances during the early stages of development, when the young plant remains below the ground and cannot yet photosynthesize effectively.
The presence of mature plants at a locality does not, therefore, depend solely on seed dispersal. It requires a suitable combination of soil, moisture, fungi, microclimate, vegetation and pollinators. This is one of the principal reasons why wild orchids usually fail to survive when they are uprooted and transplanted.
Habitat in Cyprus
Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica grows in Mediterranean ecosystems with relatively open vegetation. It may occur in phrygana, scrubland, grassy places, openings in pine woodland and the margins of other natural or semi-natural habitats.
It generally prefers places receiving sufficient light and where competition from dense, tall vegetation is limited. Such localities may occur on limestone or other suitable substrates, depending on the local geological and soil conditions.
According to the earlier Biodiversity of Cyprus post, its altitudinal range on the island is approximately 50–600 metres. Other secondary sources provide broader limits, but these differences may reflect different sets of records or different taxonomic treatments. For this reason, it is preferable to retain the information from the original Cyprus record.
The survival of a locality depends on the preservation of the natural structure of its habitat. Both the complete destruction of the vegetation and its excessive thickening may negatively affect the plants, depending on the particular conditions of each area.
Flowering period
In Cyprus, the Lapithos bee orchid flowers from February to April. The exact period varies according to altitude, the exposure of the locality, temperatures and the rainfall of each year.
Flowering may begin earlier in warmer, lower areas, whereas it may be delayed at colder or higher localities. These dates should not, therefore, be treated as absolutely fixed.
The photographs in this post were taken in Akamas on 25 March 2021, a date falling within the normal flowering period of the subspecies in Cyprus.
Distribution in Cyprus and Anatolia
Ophrys lapethica was described from Cyprus and was considered a strictly Cypriot endemic for a long time. This is why it is characterized as endemic in older books, checklists, photographic collections and online posts.
The current Flora of Cyprus – a dynamic checklist records it as indigenous and near-endemic, noting that it also occurs in Anatolia. This information changes its biogeographical classification without diminishing the particular importance of the Cypriot population.
The presence of related forms in Anatolia has also resulted in different taxonomic interpretations. Some names used for populations in Turkey are treated by modern databases as synonyms or as part of the same broader taxonomic group.
Because not all authors define the boundaries of the taxa within the Ophrys umbilicata complex in the same way, distribution reports must always be considered together with the taxonomic source being followed.
Why it should no longer be described as strictly endemic
The term “endemic” means that a taxon occurs naturally only within a particular geographical region and nowhere else in the world. Since the current Cypriot checklist recognizes the natural presence of Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica in Anatolia as well, the strict description “endemic to Cyprus” is no longer accurate.
The correct description is “near-endemic to Cyprus”. This term indicates that most or the most important part of its distribution is associated with Cyprus, but that it also has a limited natural presence outside the island.
This change does not mean that the original description was arbitrary. It reflects the development of botanical knowledge, the discovery or reinterpretation of populations outside Cyprus and changes in the taxonomic delimitation of the plant.
Threats and protection
Wild orchids may be affected by the loss and alteration of their habitats. Building development, road construction, engineering works, land clearance, deep ploughing and the use of herbicides can directly destroy the plants and their underground tubers.
The clearing of vegetation at an unsuitable time can also prevent reproduction. If flowering stems are cut before the fruits mature, the seeds cannot be dispersed. Repetition of this practice may gradually weaken a small population.
Illegal collection and uprooting constitute an additional threat. A plant transferred from its natural environment is highly likely to die because it loses the appropriate soil, microclimate and relationship with the necessary mycorrhizal fungi.
The precise locations of small or vulnerable populations should not be widely publicized. Excessive visitation, trampling by photographers and collection can cause damage even when there is no deliberate intention to destroy the plants.
Photography should be carried out without touching, moving or removing the surrounding vegetation. The ground around the plant should not be trampled because small rosettes, underground tubers or young plants that are not easily visible may be present.
The importance of accurate recording
Photographic documentation of wild orchids can provide valuable information about their distribution, flowering period, morphological variation and changes in their populations. To be scientifically useful, it should be accompanied by an accurate date, general locality, altitude and a description of the habitat.
Photographs of the entire plant, the inflorescence, the front and side views of the flower, the basal rosette and the surrounding habitat are useful. A single close-up photograph of the labellum may not be sufficient for reliable identification.
Repeated monitoring of the same localities may reveal whether a population remains stable, increases or declines. It can also record new threats, changes in the vegetation or shifts in the flowering period.
An orchid closely associated with Cyprus
Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica is a characteristic element of the orchid flora of Cyprus. It was described from the island, bears a name referring to Lapithos and remains closely associated with the natural history of Cyprus.
Although it is no longer considered strictly endemic, it remains near-endemic and possesses particular biogeographical and botanical value. Its restricted distribution and dependence on specialized ecological relationships make the protection of the localities where it grows especially important.
The case of the Lapithos bee orchid also demonstrates why scientific names and distribution categories must be updated when new evidence emerges. A correct modern presentation should include both the accepted name Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica and the widely known synonym Ophrys lapethica, together with the description “near-endemic to Cyprus”.
Photographs
Akamas, Cyprus, 25 March 2021 – George Konstantinou
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Streptophyta
Class: Equisetopsida
Subclass: Magnoliidae
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Orchideae
Subtribe: Orchidinae
Genus: Ophrys L.
Species: Ophrys umbilicata Desf.
Subspecies: Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica (Gölz & H.R.Reinhard) Faurh.
Principal synonym: Ophrys lapethica Gölz & H.R.Reinhard
Status in Cyprus: Indigenous – Near-endemic
English common name: Lapithos bee orchid
Sources
- Flora of Cyprus – Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica
- Flora of Cyprus – Synonymy of the taxon
- Plants of the World Online – Ophrys umbilicata
- World Flora Online – Ophrys lapethica
- Devey et al. (2008), “Friends or Relatives? Phylogenetics and Species Delimitation in the Controversial European Orchid Genus Ophrys”
- Del Prete & Mazzola (1995), “Endemism and speciation in the orchids of Mediterranean Islands”
- Original photographic post on Biodiversity of Cyprus
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