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Cevennes


               Notable species :-

                             Cephalanthera damasonium
                        Cephalanthera longifolia
                        Cyprepedium calciolus
                        Dactylorhiza elata
                        Dactylorhiza fucshii                     
                        Himantoglossum hircinum
                        Limodorum abortivum
                        Neotinea maculata
                        Neotinea ustulata       
                        Neottia ovata
                        Ophrys apifera
                        Ophrys aveyronensis
                        Ophrys aymoninii               
                        Ophrys araneola
                        Ophrys caloptera
                        Ophrys insectifera
                        Ophrys scolopax                       
                        Orchis militaris
                        Orchis olbiensis
                        Orchis purpurea
                        Orchis simia
                


                          Ophrys aymoninii
                             Cevennes National Park
                                  Ophrys aveyronensis
                                     Orchis olbiensis                                  Ophrys araneola


Areas of interest


* Lapanouse-de-Cernon

This small town is situated on the D77 some 10kms south of Millau in the Provence of Aveyron. To the immediate south of the town is a ridge of largely forested high ground which is well known as the home to a large number of orchid species. Several good walking trails start from the old Railway Station on the southern outskirts of the town. Cephalanthera damasonium, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys araneola, Ophrys aveyronensis, Ophrys passionis, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys sulcata, Orchis Purpurea, Orchis anthropophora, Platanthera bifolia.


*Saint-Rome-de-Cernon

Five kilometres west of Lapanouse-de-Cernon is the town of Saint-Rome-de-Cernon which sits just east of the junction of the D993 and D31. A trip from St Rome along the D31 and then southwards along the D993 to Tiergues takes one through occasional ares of woodland and meadow which hold good numbers of orchids. Anacamptis fragrans,
Cephalanthera damasonium, Neotinia ustulata, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys aveyronensis, Ophrys passionis, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys sulcata, Orchis simia, Orchis anthropophora,


*Dolmen de Tiergues

This well known ancient monument is situated on the D250 just to the north of Tiergues and to its south is a large area of scrub, rich in orchids.
Cephalanthera damasonium, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys araneola, Ophrys aveyronensis, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys sulcata, Orchis anthropophora, Platanthera bifolia.


+ Causse Noir (Black Mountain)

This is a large area of high ground to the east of Millau, that was once completely forested but which has now seen a significant amount of land turned over to agriculture, primarily sheep farming. It is still however a region that supports an extremely varied flora, including several of the Cevennes special orchids which find a home in abandoned fields, forest edges and road verges. The first five winding kilometres of the D41 eastwards from Roque-Sainte-Marguerite is a very good place to start. Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera damasonium, Dactylorhiza fucshii, Himantoglossum hircinum, Neotinea maculata, Neotinea ustulata, Neottia ovata, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys aymoninii, Ophrys aranola, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys apifera, Orchis anthropophora, Orchis purpurea, Orchis militaris.


*
Roc des Hourtous

Located in Lozere, this is an area of outstanding beauty perched on the Tarn Gorge some two kilometres west of the picturesque village of La Malene. The meadows and woodland abound with orchids and can be approached either by the D907BIS from La Malene or the D16 at Rieisse.
Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cyprepedium calceolus, Dactylorhiza elata, Gymnadenia conopsea, Neotinea maculata, Neotinea ustulata, Neottia nidus-avis, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys aymoninii, Orchis simia, Orchis purpurea, Orchis militaris.


* Les Basses Liquisses

This is a village that sits astride the D999, twenty kilometres south east of Millau. Approximately three hundred metres to the east of the village is an area of woodland that stretches for over a kilometre to the village of Les Cuns. Many tracks run through the trees and orchids can be found throughout, particularly in the many large forest clearings.
Cephalanthera longifolia, Neotinea ustulata, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys aymoninii, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys lutea, Orchis simia, Orchis purpurea, Orchis militaris, Orchis mascula.