John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe
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Crete


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

    Notable Species :-
             
Anacamptis boryi
                    Anacamptis robusta
                    Cephalanthera cucullata
                    Ophrys ariadnae
                    Ophrys creberrima
                    Ophrys cretensis
                    Ophrys cretica
                    Ophrys dictynnae
                    Ophrys doerfleri
                    Ophrys episcopalis
                    Ophrys gortynia
                    Ophrys grigoriana
                    Ophrys heldrechii
                    Ophrys helios
                    Ophrys leochroma
                    Ophrys pallidula
                    Ophrys phaidra
                    Ophrys thriptiensis                
                    Orchis prisca
                    Orchis sitiaca
                    Serapias orientalis  

                    Serapias orientalis v cordigeroides

                                 Ophrys creticola
                               Ophrys gortynia
                                 Orchis sitiaca
                                   Ophrys bicornuta


Areas of interest


* Samaria Gorge

This extremely well known geographical feature is situated in the south west of the island and
visited by thousands of tourists every year. The bulk of this invasion takes place in the summer however, when much of the botanical interest has shriveled in the Cretan sun. The gorge is accessed by a steep path from its northern end  and much of the orchid interest lies in the rocky wooded slopes on the descent. One of the particular rarities to be found in this area is Orchis prisca. The rugged floor of the gorge and the rocky cliffs that surround it are home to many of Crete's species, including the strictly protected and very rare Cephalanthera cuculata. It should be noted however that access to the gorge is not year round, being entirely dependent on the condition of the path after the depredations of the preceding winters snow and rain. In some years the high level of required repair work defers its opening until many spring flowers are already finished.  Ophrys leochroma, Ophrys episcopalis, Ophrys heldrechii, Ophrys omegaifera, Dactylorhiza romana, Orchis prisca, Orchis pauciflora, Orchis quadripunctata, Anacamptis papilionacea ssp aegaea, Cephalanthera cucullata.

Lassithi

Situated 70kms south east of Heraklion this famous plateau is of great historical interest and attracts a large number of visitors during the tourist season. In early Spring the alluvial plain and surrounding mountains are also of high interest to the orchid enthusiast. The plain itself is however highly cultivated and locating suitable orchid habitat can be difficult. The most productive areas are the foothills on the perimeter of the plain where the land has been spared cultivation.  Orchis italica, Ophrys iricolor, Ophrys thriptiensis. Ophrys creberrina, Ophrys cretica, Ophrys cretensis, Ophrys omegaifera, Ophrys dictynnae, Ophrys villosa, Ophrys leochroma, Ophrys heldreichii, Ophrys pallidula, Himantoglossum robertianum.


*
Psychro

This is a small town on the south western edge of the Lassithi plain and which is a convenient access point for the path that meanders up the hillside to Dictaio Andro or Psychro Cave, the legendary birthplace of Zeus. The path traverses garrigue and lightly wooded hillsides which are rich in orchids.
  Ophrys iricolor, Ophrys thriptiensis. Ophrys creberrina, Ophrys cretica, Ophrys cretensis, Ophrys omegaifera, Ophrys dictynnae,  Ophrys villosa, Ophrys leochroma, Orchis pauciflora, Himantoglossum robertianum.


* Aghia Varvara

This village lies in the considerable shadow of Mount Ida and from its western outskirts a road leads to the similarly small village of Kamares. The road takes one through garrigue and wooded hillsides that are teeming with orchids, including the increasingly scarce Cephalanthera cucullata.


 
* Spili

This is a town some 20kms south of Rethymnon and which is a convenient centre from which to explore the surrounding orchid rich countryside. South of the town in the Spili valley towards Aktouna, the level of subsistence farming reduces and orchids can be found abundantly in damp meadows, along stream sides and in the rock strewn scrub that appears increasingly as one heads towards the coast. To the north of Spili the road to Gerakari winds uphill, emerging after a few kilometres  onto to a high plateau consisting of scrub, small hills and occasional strip field cultivation. This habitat and particularly some of the hillocks and field edges can often teem with orchids of many species. Ophrys iricolor, Ophrys leochroma, Ophrys villosa, Ophrys kedra, Ophrys phaidra, Ophrys cretica, Ophrys episcopalis, Orchis simia,  Orchis anthropophora, Orchis pauciflora, Orchis quadripunctata, Anacamptis collina, Anancamptis papilionacea ssp aegea.


* Phaistos

This is a municipality in the south of central Crete and the location of a well known and much visited Bronze Age archaeological site. The site is situated amid hilly garrigue where orchids abound. Another ancient palace, Hagia Triada is located nearby and offers similarly rewarding opportunities for exploration. Ophrys cretica,
Ophrys doerfleri, Ophrys ariadnae, Ophrys leochroma, Ophrys villosa, Anacamptis collina, Anacamptis papilionacea ssp aegea, Orchis simia, Serapias orientalis.

* Gournia

Alongside the E75, some 100kms east of Heraklion are the ancient remains of the Minoan village of Gournia which overlook the sea on the north coast of the island. Many species of orchid can be found in the surrounding hills and indeed amongst the ruins themselves.
Ophrys gortynia, Ophrys heldrechii, Ophrys cretica, Ophrys doerfleri, Ophrys spruneri, Ophrys leochroma, Ophrys villosa, Anacamptis collina, Anacamptis papilionacea ssp aegea, Orchis simia, Serapias orientalis.