John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe
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Cadiz


            Notable species :-

                      Anacamptis champagneuxii
                   Anacamptis laxiflora
                   Gennaria diphylla
                   Epipactis lusitanica
                   Epipactis tremolsii
         
          Himantoglossum hircinum
                   Himantoglossum robertianum
                   Ophrys bombyliflora         
                   Ophrys dyris                          

                   Ophrys fusca
                   Ophrys ficalhoana                      
                   Ophrys quarterae
                   Ophrys scolopax                    
                   Ophrys speculum
                   Ophrys tenthredenifera
                   Ophrys tenthredenifera v praecox                    Ophrys vernixia
                   Orchis olbiensis
                   Orchis langei
                   Orchis mascula                   
            
                   Serapias lingua                     


                             Ophrys dyris

                                              Cadiz
                        Anacamptis champagneuxii
                               Ophrys quarterae                                    Gennaria diphylla


Areas of interest

 
* Grazalema

Botanical interest within the Province of Cadiz largely lies in the mountainous limestone area which extends from the Grazalema National Park, southwards to the coastal port of Algeciras. The fertile lowlands have been extensively cultivated and since Spains entry into the EU there has been an explosion in the acreage devoted to olive plantations. As with the Provinces of Alicante and Malaga, finding natural habitat that supports a wide range of species can be difficult and often somewhat depressing.

From the picturesque town of Grazalema, follow the A-372  westwards and on the outskirts of town you will approach a small bridge across the  Rio Gaudalete. Immediately before this on your left is a parking area (Sendero Camino de Los Charcones) from which a path leads uphill between the river and the main road for a kilometre and a half as far as the car park at Rutas por Grazalema. Orchids can be found throughout the area.
Ophrys quarterae, Ophrys bombyliflora,  Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys ficalhoana, Anacamptis laxiflora, Orchis italica, Orchis olbiensis, Orchis langei, Serapias lingua.


* Rutas por Grazalema

From the car parks southern end, a gated, walking trail heads up into the Sierra Grazalema and orchids can be found sporadically along its length.
Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Anacamptis laxiflora, Orchis italica, Orchis olbiensis, Orchis langei, Serapias lingua.


* Benamahoma


From Grazalema follow the A-372 towards El Bosque. Orchids can be found throughout but the area around the Sendero El Torreon to the east of Benamahoma is of particular interest for its colonies of Ophrys quarterae. Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys quarterae, Anacamptis laxiflora, Orchis italica, Orchis olbiensis, Orchis langei, Serapias lingua.


*  Jimena de la Frontera

The C-3331 north west from the town runs through the mountainous terrain of the Parque Natural Los Alcornocales and is productive orchid country.
Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys speculum, Himatoglossum robertianum, Anacamptis laxiflora, Orchis italica, Orchis olbiensis, Orchis langei, Serapias lingua, Serapias parviflora.


*  Gibralter

It should be stressed that despite its very firm attachment to the Spanish mainland in the south of Cadiz Province, Gibralter is of course controversially a British sovereignty. It is a heavily urbanised peninsula but at its centre is a mountainous spine the north of which forms the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Of particular interest near the entrance to the Great Siege Tunnels is a thriving colony of Gennaria Diphylla but more species can be found in the open rocky areas to the south. Ophrys apifera, Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys speculum, Gennaria diphylla, Serapias parviflora, Anacamptis  pyramidalis.