Filerimos 9th April 2023 (36°23'58.55"N  28° 8'26.44"E)

As you park at this former monastery beware of the peacocks. There are hundreds of them with all the males more intent on displaying their impressive tail feathers than looking out for reversing cars. The location marker is where the most diverse species were found, but the first find is Anacamptis pyramidalis in the grass over the other side near the Byzantine stronghold. These are generally paler but pinker than what we are used to.

There are finds to be made in front of the buildings and to the right of the path leading up to the big cross. First off is Ophrys rheinholdii again, and this time it is fantastic to see the variety within this species, with lip shape and pattern no two alike, sepal colour and size. The one thing in common is the large petals , but even these come in a range of colours. Some having petals like a pair of horns. Hybrids perhaps with the Rhodian goats haha.

Also there in close proximity is Ophrys umbilicata ssp. rhodia which are quite uniform compared to the species above, and a few Ophrys sicula. In a way I think we should wander further around here finding more interesting stuff, but do need to move on.

Epta Piges 9th April 2023 (36°15'15.23"N  28° 6'49.87"E)

I am not quite sure why we are visiting here as we did this 20 years ago and were not impressed then, but the travel book says that the Italians, when they were here, planted the pine tress to help sustain the local orchids. I am glad we have come though, as when we follow the path above the stream I spot a species that was at the top of my wish-list; Limodorum arbortivum. Unfortunately they we are perhaps a week too early with only a few traces of colour being unfurled. They look like young but deeply coloured asparagus spears.

Apollonia Road site 4 (36°14'59.42"N 27°58'39.28"E)

A return to the road where our day was cut short by torrential rain, but starting from the northern end an progressing to where we got to. This first spot looked promising, sat between olive groves, but it yielded only Ophrys phryganae.

Apollonia Road site 5 9th April 2023 (36°11'31.95"N 27°57'43.58"E)

Patchy pine forest, unused ground and a spot for someone to have some 20 bee hives - a hybrid between two of Harry Enfield`s comic characters called Loadsa Honey!
Under the pines we find more Limodorum arbortivum which are also only just opening the flowers. In the grassy area opposite are what I think is Serapsias parviflora clearly different to the other two species of this genus were have seen here in Rhodes.

Profitis Ilias 9th April 2023 ( 36°16'10.99"N 27°54'38.29"E)

The journey back to the hotel offers another chance to have a look in the woods of Profitis Ilias, At another site with some large rocks there are more Neotinea maculata but this time only the white flowered variety - not a trace of pink. Surprisingly both the yellow flowered Ophrys seem to be present. Ophrys sicula with the lip edge turning downward and a wider sinus, and Ophrys phryganae with the flower looking more open.