Hairy orchid....

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:12 pm

Hi guys i sucketh when it comes to plants, but i just love orchids. Found this orchid and would like to know the species name and what insect does it imitate.

HC Weber · Post by **HC Weber** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:38 pm

Hi, p 32 fig 1: the Maltese spider orchid!
Regards, HC

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:02 am

Woow. Beautiful orchid, checking out its profile now. Thanks Mr.Weber.

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:03 pm

The shiny metalic-blue pattern (known as speculum) at the centre of the lip (the whole black hairy structure) can vary a lot, so do not think they are all different species! On one extreme it could even lack the speculum, and on the other hand it could be a nice thick 'H shape' or 'horse shoe shape'.

Was it at Dingli ?

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:44 pm

No it wasn't i found it elsewhere. I really don't want to specify where cause i think i would be endagering such a species on our islands. Yes i think this one lacked the speculum.

Beautiful profile for the plant btw.

Post by **MWP admin** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:00 pm

It is much more common than it is thought and it is also found where you live

D. Cilia · Post by **D. Cilia** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:56 pm

MWP admin wrote:It is much more common than it is thought

I'll have to look harder then, I've never seen one...

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:43 pm

Its flowering period is now nearly over. The type locality is Pembroke. There might be a few still if you go this weekend.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:45 pm

yes, it is found scattered here and there, but a large population occurs at Pembroke.

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:56 pm

Ok, here is one of my scoops from the many I have in the lis.

Ophrys bertoloniiformis - first record in Malta !!

D. Cilia · Post by **D. Cilia** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:53 am

Wow! Congratulations MWP, will you upload the full record anytime soon?

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:21 pm

wow, prosit! how do you differentiate it from melitensis?

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:37 pm

I do not (yet) really agree...

Post by **MWP admin** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:43 pm

Well, i would also put as O. melitensis, but O.Danesch & E. Danesch have described this form as a new species. It has a low-positioned speculum which is rather large, reddish-brown hairs, lack of or minute basal swellings and maybe more important, the isometric results of the stigmatic cavity matched the description.

On the other and, there few other things that did not perfectly match, as in many cases of these new orchid descriptions. So I am still studying the plant but seems that it could reaaly be O. bertoloniformis !!

Compare here:

http://www.orchis.de/orchis/docs/d008.htm

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:24 pm

I do not know anything about this particular plant, but I think that this business of describing each tiny orchid variant as a distinct species seems to be getting out of hand (of course I am not referring to you mwp but to all these botanists coming up with orchid names)

I am sure that if this approach were to be taken with other 'less popular species', the number of plant species in the world would be increased considerably

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:09 pm

I agree perfectly and I am still studying this plant.

RB · Post by RB » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:18 pm

robcar wrote:I do not know anything about this particular plant, but I think that this business of describing each tiny orchid variant as a distinct species seems to be getting out of hand (of course I am not referring to you mwp but to all these botanists coming up with orchid names)

I am sure that if this approach were to be taken with other 'less popular species', the number of plant species in the world would be increased considerably

I did not bother saying it, but my thoughts exactly.

I am sure that some botanists see a different species even when they look in the mirror!!

RB

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:04 pm

Honestly, I think we should give more respect to the Orchidologist. The discussion is often wether the plant description should be given the highest ranking of a species or a lower one such as a subsp. or var.

nevertheless, we got the joke and what was laid between the lines