Common name: Small-flowered Tongue Orchid. Latin name: Serapias parviflora Maltese name:

1. The Orchids constitute a large and specialized Family. They produce minute seeds, the smallest known, in large numbers. In order to germinate, these seeds have to be infected by a type of fungus which eventually penetrates to the roots. The orchid lives underground for a period which varies from one to several years, after which the leaves emerge. Maltese orchids are all tuberous perennials; they bear two tubers, one of which is swollen and the other shriveled. The flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals, one of which is specialized and referred to as the labellum. In many species of the genus Ophrys, the labellum resembles an insect.

2. Common name: Small-flowered Tongue Orchid. Latin name: Serapias parviflora Maltese name: Orkida ta’ l-Ilsien |g]ira. Flowers in spring. Grows in garigue, rocky steppes and abandoned fields. Frequent.

3. Common name: Mirror Orchid Latin name: Ophrys speculum (= O. vernixia; O. ciliate) Maltese name: Dubbiena Kahla. Spring-flowering. Labellum has metallic, mirror-like appearance. Grows in garigue and steppes. On the island of Malta it is very rare, while on Gozo it is scarce but rather widespread. Also found on Comino.

4. Common name: Brown Orchid Latin name: Ophrys fusca Maltese name: Dubbiena Flowers in winter and spring. Very variable. Grows in garigue, steppes and maquis. In 1993, Belgian botanist Delforge distunguished three different races which he regards as separate species. Frequent.

5. Common name: Yellow Bee Orchid Latin name: Ophrys lutea Maltese name: |un\ana Spring-flowering. Found in garigue, rocky steppes and maquis. Two subspecies, lutea and minor, occur. Rare.

6. Common name: Maltese Spider Orchid Latin name: Ophrys sphegodes ssp. Melitensis Maltese name: Brimba sewda Spring-flowering. Grows in maquis, garigue and rocky steppes. Very variable. Was often confused with similar subspecies or species. Endemic. Scarce.

7. Common name: Bumble Bee Orchid Latin name: Ophrys bombyliflora Maltese name: Na]la Spring-flowering. Grows mostly in garigue and rock steppe. Frequent.

8. Common name: Fan Lipped Orchid Latin name: Orchis collina (=O. saccata) Maltese name: Orkida }amra Winter-flowering. Grows in garigue, rocky steppes and fallow fields. Frequent.

9. Common name: Scented Bug Orchid Latin name: Orchis coriophora ssp. Fragrans Maltese name: Orkida Tfu] Spring-flowering. Grows in garigue, rocky steppes and abandoned fields. Colour of flower very variable. Frequent.

10. Common name: Milky Orchid Latin name: Orchis lactea Maltese name: Orkida tat-Tikek Winter-flowering. Grows in garigue, rocky steppes and neglected fields. Colour and pattern of flowers very variable. Belgian botanist Delforge has recently suggested that the Maltese plants are O. conica. Frequent.

11. Common name: Common Pyramidal Orchid Latin name: Anacamptis pyramidalis Maltese name: Orkida Piramidali Flowers in April and May. Grows in steppes, garigue, maquis, clays and fallow fields. Frequent.

12. Common name: Maltese Pyramidal Orchid Latin name: Anacamptis urvilleana Maltese name: Orkida Piramidali ta’ Malta Flowers from February to April. Grows on garigue and rocky steppes. Resembles Common Pyramidal Orchid, but generally smaller with pale pink or white flowers. Named by botanists Sommier and Caruana Gatto. Endemic, but some plants found recently in the Gargano peninsula in Puglia (Italy) are said to belong to this species. Scarce.

13. Common name: Moon Spider Latin name: Ophrys lunulata Maltese name: Brimba tal-Qamar This is an endangered orchid. It is only found in the Maltese Islands and in Sicily. This is protected by law as well as Ophrys melitensis and Anacamptis urvilleana (the last 2 are endemic to the Maltese Islands only).