Saturday, August 18, 2007

My first orchid

The first orchid I spotted was a group of Barlia robertiana in Serra Daire e Candeeiros. It was raining cats and dogs, that day, but the huge orchids in an olive grove by the road side threw my attention.


My first orchids - Barlia robertiana in Serra Daire e Candeeiros, March 2005

Barlia robertiana is the biggest terrestrial Portuguese orchid, growing up to 1 meter high. It is one of the early flowering orchids, from January to April. The common names are “cravo-de-burro” (Portuguese) and “giant orchid” (English).

A comon species of grassy places, olive groves, citrus groves etc in the Mediterranean region, when most of the orchids are beginning to flourish, the Barlias are normally decaying in the seed stage.
xxx
Barlia flowers, March 2005
In Portugal, Barlias exist in the West area, between the Sado and Mondego rivers, in a strip 60 km wide from the sea. Best places are Serra da Arrábida, Serra Daire e Candeeiros, Lisbon limestone surroundings that include Serra de Montejunto. Does not occur in the Algarve.
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Group of Barlia robertiana in Serra Daire e Candeeiros, March 2005

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