John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe
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Mallorca

Notable species :-

Anacamptis fragrans
Anacamptis longicornu
Anacamptis pyramidalis
Anacamptis robusta
Himantoglossum robertianum
Neotinea conica
Neotinea maculata
Ophrys arnoldii
Ophrys balearica
Ophrys bilunulata
Ophrys bombyliflora
Ophrys decembris
Ophrys dyris
Ophrys fabrella
Ophrys funditorum
Ophrys incubacea
Ophrys lupercalis
Ophrys spectablis
Ophrys speculum
Ophrys tenthredinifera
Orchis olbiensis
Serapias lingua
Serapias parviflora 


                                                                                        Mallorca
                               Ophrys spectablis
                                 Ophrys balearica
                                Anacamptis robusta


Areas of interest

1. Coll de Sa Gremola

From Andraitx take the MA10 north towards Estellencs and after approx. 4kms you will find a large car park on your left. The area has a picnic site and is a popular pick up and parking facility for the several walking trails that radiate from the site. Take the main path that leads westwards and orchids can be found along the track and its environs for several kilometres.

This whole area was once forested but several years ago a disastrous fire reduced the area to ash and for a few years orchids struggled. We can however happily report that the orchids have returned and whilst numbers are still somewhat reduced, all the original species are again in evidence.

Species :- Ophrys funditorum, Ophrys lupercalis, Ophrys arnoldii, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys spectablis, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys balearica, Ophrys speculum, Ophrys incubacea, Neotinea conica, Serapias parviflora, Orchis olbiensis.

 


2. Parc Naturel de S'Albufera de Mallorca

This is a large area of mixed fresh and brackish wetland situated in the east of the island on the MA-12 between Alcudia and Can Picafort. Although a great attraction for birdwatchers, it does not offer any great botanical interest to the orchid enthusiast. There is however one notable exception to this observation and that is the presence of the extremely rare Anacamptis robusta, which can be found growing along just a few of the tracks that criss cross the reserve.

Species:- Anacamptis robusta, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys speculum.


3. Son Real

This is an area of some 395 acres that was acquired by the Spanish Government in order to protect a number of its significant archaeological sites. The park is  also of considerable interest to the botanist and contains a good variety of the islands orchid species.

From Can Picafort take the MA-12 east towards Arta and after 3 kms take the left turn signposted “Finca Son Real”.  Park in the large parking area near the farmhouse.  From the north eastern end of the park there are four well marked trails, all of which are rich in orchids. Whilst trail four is perhaps the most productive, some species are not present on all the trails and an exploration of each of them is necessary to complete all the species listed below.

Species:-  Anacamptis fragrans, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Himantoglossum robertianum, Neotinea maculata, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys funditorum, Ophrys fabrella, Ophrys balearica, Ophrys speculum, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys spectablis, Ophrys bilunulata, Ophrys arnoldii, Serapias lingua, Serapias parviflora.


4. Can Picafort

This is a popular tourist resort which in the summer experiences an enormous influx of holidaymakers. In the Spring however numbers are low and the towns coastal pine forest can be explored in relative peace and quiet. A visit to Google maps reveals there are two significant areas of woodland, both of which offer the orchid enthusiast a good variety of species.The first is accessed by a car park located on the MA-12, some 200 metres beyond the Eroski Supermarket roundabout at the western end of the town. The second is also accessed via this roundabout but going south west towards Muro and is to be found along both sides of the MA-3431 immediately after the second roundabout.    

Species:-  Anacamptis fragrans, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Himantoglossum robertianum, Neotinea maculata, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys funditorum, Ophrys balearica, Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys speculum, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys bilunulata, Serapias lingua, Serapias parviflora.


5. Parc Naturel de Mondrago

This is a reserve of 785 hectares which is very popular with tourists who flock there to marvel at its beautiful scenery and (relatively) unspoilt beaches. The Parc  was created in 1992 as the result of demonstrations against its development as a new resort. As with Can Picafort, it is less busy in the Spring and one can explore the areas varied landscapes and habitats at a leisurely pace. It is situated on the south east coast just a couple of kilometres east of the town of Santanyi and is well signposted.

Mondrago is rich in both flora and fauna and many orchid species prosper here, including the early form of Anacamptis pyramidalis which is considered a subspecies of the ubiquitous later flowering type.
  

Species:-  Anacamptis fragrans, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Anacamptis pyramidalis (early form), Himantoglossum robertianum, Neotinea maculata, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys funditorum, Ophrys balearica, Ophrys speculum, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys bilunulata, Serapias lingua, Serapias parviflora.


6. Cala Figuera

This is a small town once again heavily visited by tourists but which is surrounded by significant areas of pine woodland and scrub. Find your way to the Port de Cala Figuera and park in the small car park.

From here follow the narrow path that takes you past the moorings and fisherman’s lock ups and eventually to a raised track that is bordered by the inlet on the right and an embankment to the left. This embankment supports orchids and one can follow the path to the end of the inlet, up the hill on the other side and into a large area of woodland and scrub which also holds orchids.

Species:-  Anacamptis fragrans, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Anacamptis pyramidalis (early variant) , Ophrys balearica, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys fabrella, Ophrys funditorum,  Ophrys speculum, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Orchis italica, Serapias parviflora.


7. Puigpunyent

From the town take the MA-1032 south towards Es Capdella. Suitable stretches of road verge, embankments and fringing woodland from the outskirts of Puigpunyent through to Galilea can yield good numbers of orchids and is particularly well known for healthy populations of both Anacamptis longicornu and Neotinea conica.

Species:-  Anacamptis fragrans, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Anacamptis longicornu, Neotinea maculata, Ophrys balearica, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys funditorum, Ophrys arnoldii, Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys speculum, Ophrys bilunulata, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys spectablis, Serapias parviflora.