O. souchei was first described as a sub-species by Martin and Vela from Vaucluse in 2012. It's named after Remy Souche the well known French orchid epecialist and is a member of the O. fuciflora group.
Its range is not known with certainty but thought to be centred on the French department of Vaucluse and south through to Bouches-du-Rhone. It is present in Drome but how far north it extends is yet to be determined.
O. souchei is an impressive orchid up to 60cms tall, robust with a loose inflorescence of up to six large, usually colourful flowers. The lip may be fuciflorid or rectangular with poorly developed basal swellings and light brown or red recurved margins. A key identifying feature of this species is its late flowering period which starts in mid June and continues for much of July. This coincides with the similar O. montiliensis, an Ophrys whose range overlaps in several areas.
The photos come from Drome, south of the Vercors massif and date from the last week in June.
Its range is not known with certainty but thought to be centred on the French department of Vaucluse and south through to Bouches-du-Rhone. It is present in Drome but how far north it extends is yet to be determined.
O. souchei is an impressive orchid up to 60cms tall, robust with a loose inflorescence of up to six large, usually colourful flowers. The lip may be fuciflorid or rectangular with poorly developed basal swellings and light brown or red recurved margins. A key identifying feature of this species is its late flowering period which starts in mid June and continues for much of July. This coincides with the similar O. montiliensis, an Ophrys whose range overlaps in several areas.
The photos come from Drome, south of the Vercors massif and date from the last week in June.
