Dyris Orchid (Ophrys dyris)
Height: 10-40cm
Colour: Brown, Green, Off-white
Flowering: March to May
Soil type: Alkaline

This orchid can easily be overlooked as its subtle colours blend into grasses. The sepals are green and the narrow, wavy upper petals a green/orange tone. The main lip is convex and divided into three lobes with the central lobe also being notched at the base. The three lobes have a velvety, brown covering with a smooth outer trim that can be green, yellow, brown or orangey. The centre of the flower has a lemon peel type surface, the colour here is brown underlined by a W shape of a lighter shade; pink, off-white or grey.

This orchid grows on alkaline soils in pastures, garrigue, scrubland and woodland clearings up to an altitude of 2000m.

Synonyms: Ophrys fusca subsp dyris, Ophrys atlantica subsp. dyris, Ophrys omegaifera subsp. dyris

These images of orchids were taken in Southern Spain, many terrestrial species are widespread from the Iberian peninsular eastwards through the Mediterranean region.