John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe
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Sicily

Notable species :-

Anacamptis longicornu
Anacamptis papilionacea ssp grandiflora
Dactylorhiza markusii
Neotinea commutata
Neotinea conica
Ophrys archimedea
Ophrys biancae
Ophrys caesiella
Ophrys calliantha
Ophrys exaltata
Ophrys explanata
Ophrys flammeola
Ophrys gackiae
Ophrys grandiflora
Ophrys grassoana
Ophrys lacaitea
Ophrys laurensis
Ophrys lunulata
Ophrys numida
Ophrys obaesa
Ophrys oxyrrynchos
Ophrys pallida
Ophrys panormitana
Ophrys sabulosa
Orchis branciforti

Serapias nurrica



                               Ophrys calliantha
                                 Orchis branciforti
                                   Ophrys grassoana


Areas of interest


* Linguaglossa.

This town is situated on the north east edge of the Parco dell'Etna and is surrounded by orchid rich habitat. The road verges, lava fields and scrub in all directions and particular along the small roads from the town to Rocella Valdemone and Francavilla. Ophrys grassoana, Ophrys  obaesa, Ophrys panormitana, Ophrys gackiae, Ophrys archimedea, N. conica.

*
Ragalna.

The SP160 leaves this small town from the east and after approximately a kilometre passes through a large area of stabilized lava fields to the south of Mount Etna. This is a prime habitat for some of Sicily's more specialised orchids. Orchis branciforti, Ophrys grassoana, Ophrys lunulata, Ophrys biancae, N. conica.


 
+Riserva Naturale Pantalica.

This is a National Park consisting of garrigue and light woodland to the east of Ferla. There is a Visitors Centre and this can be taken as a good base from which to explore the area. O. lacaitea can be found within a hundred metres of this facility. It is however a huge area and it is really a question of driving along the SR11 through the park and exploring promising looking areas. It would take days to explore properly but the orchid list is impressive. Ophrys lunulata, Ophrys biancae, Ophrys calliantha, Ophrys lacaitea, Ophrys obaesa, Ophrys lupercalis, Ophrys explanata, Ophrys sabulosa, Ophrys ozyrrynchos, Neotia commutata, Serapias orientalis v siciliensis.


*Monte Grosso.

From the town of Cassaro, take the SP45 towards Palazzola and Solarino and after approx 7kms you come to a T junction with the SP124. The garrigue around this junction is orchid rich, particularly the 1.5kms of the SP45 you have just traveled along. An area also worthy of note is the small strip of land between the two roads at the junction. Ophrys gackiae,
Ophrys lunulata, Ophrys biancae, Ophrys calliantha, Ophrys lacaitea, Ophrys obaesa, Ophrys lupercalis, Ophrys explanata, Ophrys sabulosa, Ophrys ozyrrynchos, Ophrys panormitana, Ophrys archimedea, Neotia commutata,

*Monte Lauro.

The old road from Buccheri to Monterosso passes over Monte Lauro and some of the roadside fields hold orchids. Not generally in large numbers but amongst the species to be found are both Ophrys laurensis and Ophrys numida.

*Bosco della Ficuzza.

This is a large area of mixed woodland and garrigue that shelters some of Sicily's special orchids. The area is best explored from Ficuzza itself, where many tracks lead from the south and east of this beautiful village up into the forest and mountains. Dactylorhiza romana, Dactylorhiza markusii (only at higher altitudes), Ophrys pallida, Ophrys lupercalis, Orchis branciforti.