John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe
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Extremadura


            Notable species :-

                      Anacamptis champagneuxii
                   Anacamptis laxiflora
                   Anacamptis papilionacea                
                  
Himantoglossum hircinum
                   Neotinea conica
                   Ophrys bombyliflora                         

                   Ophrys fusca
                   Ophrys lutea
                   Ophrys scolopax                    
                   Ophrys speculum
                   Ophrys tenthredenifera                  
                   Orchis langei
                   Serapias cordigera
                   Serapias elsae
                   Serapias lingua
                   Serapias occidentalis
                   Serapias parviflora                  
            
                   Serapias perez-chiscanoi
                   Serapias strictifolia
                   Serapias vomeracea
                   Spiranthes aestivalis    
                


                      Serapias perez-chiscanoi

                                         Extremadura
                              Spiranthes aestivalis
                                  Neotinea conica                                Serapias occidentalis


Areas of interest

 
* Dehesa de Moheda Alta

Whilst Extremadura still offers the orchid enthusiast an interesting range of species, much of its formerly wild habitat has been lost to agriculture, predominantly fruit production and large areas are heavily fenced. For this reason National Parks and reserves are perhaps the best chance of seeing some of the regions botanical specialities. One such reserve is the Dehesa de Moheda Alta and is situated just to the north of Navalvillar de Pela on the EX-116. Orchids cannot be described as abundant here and time needs to be devoted to their discovery, the reserve is however home to virtually all the Serapias species of the area. Serapias cordigera, Serapias parviflora, perez-chiscanoi, Serapias occidentalis, Searapias vomeracea, Serapias lingua, Serapias elsae.

* San Pedro de Merida

From the village take the BA-125 south towards Valverde de Merida and after a kilometre or so the surrounding terrain becomes scrubby and uncultivated. As with the reserve above, orchids are not plentiful but the damper areas can produce a good range of species.
Ophrys speculum, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys scolopax, Anacamptis laxiflora, Anacamptis papilionacea, Orchis langei, Serapias lingua, Serapias perez-chiscanoi, Serapias elsae, Serapias strictifolia.


* Parque Nacional de Monfrague

This is a National Park that lies to the north of the town of Trujillo and offers some stunning mountain and lake scenery. Although most famous for its bird life, it is home to many species of orchid, many of which will not be found in the damp Dehesa to its west.
Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys  speculum, Anacamptis laxiflora, Anacamptis papilionacea, Anacamptis morio, Neotinea conica, Limodorum abortivum, Orchis langei, Orchis mascula, Spiranthes aestivalis, Serapias lingua.


* Cabanas del Castillo

This is a village some 10 kms north west of Gaudaloupe and is a good base from which to explore the foothills and mountain valleys that occupy this extreme eastern district of Extremadura. The walk south from the village is rewarding from both a scenic and botanical point of view but most of the surrounding countryside is also of great beauty and interest. Ophrys fusca, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredenifera, Ophrys  speculum, Anacamptis laxiflora, Anacamptis papilionacea, Anacamptis morio, Neotinea conica, Limodorum abortivum, Orchis langei, Orchis mascula, Spiranthes aestivalis, Serapias lingua.