John and Gerry's Orchids of Britain and Europe |
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Var |
Notable species :-
Anacamptis champagneuxii
Anacamptis papilionacea Cephalanthera rubra Dactylorhiza elata Dactylorhiza majalis Ophrys aurelia Ophrys caloptera Ophrys philippi Ophrys provincialis Ophrys santonica Ophrys saratoi Ophrys splendida Ophrys sulcata Ophrys vetula Ophrys virescens Orchis ovalis Orchis spitzelii Serapias cordigera Serapias gregaria Serapias neglecta Serapias olbia | ||
Ophrys philippi |
Var |
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Ophrys splendida | Ophrys saratoi |
Serapias neglecta |
Areas of interest * Mons The small town of Mons lies in the crook of a long sharp bend in the D563 between Clars and Tourrettes. As you descend into the village you travel through a landscape of woodland and hillside meadows which contain many species of orchid. The fields immediately before you cross the river into town are particularly productive, as is the small green opposite the Chappelle Notre Dame de la Pitie. Ophrys provincialis, Ophrys saratoi, Ophrys aurelia, Ophrys fuciflora, Orchis ovalis, Orchis simia, Himatoglossum robertianum, Neotinia tridentata, Serapias vomeracea. + Bagnols-en-Foret From Mons carry on southwards along the D563 past Tourrettes and join the D4 which brings you to Bagnols-en-Foret. As its name suggests, it is situated at the centre of an extremely large area of forest and the roads which radiate from the town in all directions will take you through orchid rich habitat. Of particular interest is the D47 west to La Motte and the D4 north to Saint-Paul-en-Foret. Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera longifolia, Dachtylorhiza majalis, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys splendida, Ophrys arachnitiformis, Ophrys provincialis, Ophrys vetula, Serapias cordigera, Orchis purpurea, Orchis simia. * Saint-Vallier-de-They Strictly speaking this is a town just across the border in Alpes-Maritmes, it is however most convenient to include the area under the heading of Var. St Vallier lies along the D5 some 5kms north of Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne and is again a town situated amongst countryside rich in orchids. A well known site for orchid enthusiasts is the area of meadow and garrigue that surrounds the Chapel St Luce to the west of the town. Anacamptis papilionacea ssp septentrionalis, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys caloptera, Ophrys vetula, Ophrys provincialis, Ophrys saratoi, Ophrys bertolonii, Orchis militaris, Orchis purpurea. * Parc naturel regional des Prealpes d'Azur This is again across the border in Alpes-Maritimes to the north and east of Saint-Cezaire-sur-Saigne. It is an extremely large National Park offering a variety of terrain, though predominantly pastoral uplands, dominated by the mountains of the pre-Alps. Orchids can be found throughout the region but a particularly rewarding zone for the orchid enthusiast is the length of D5 between Saint-Cezaire-sur-Saigne and Saint-Vallier-de-They, particularly the Col de la Leque. Ophrys bertolonii, Ophrys provincialis, Ophrys fuciflora, Himantoglossum hircinum, Anacamptis papilionacea ssp septentrionalis, Neotinia ustulata, Neotinea tridentata, Orchis purpurea, Orchis anthropophora, Orchis militaris. * Les Mayons This is a small town that sits astride the D75 some 5 kms east of Gonfaron. It sits in a wide valley to the north of a ridge of wooded hills rich in orchid species. Approximately 3 kms to the east of the town on the D75 is a large car park amongst the trees that serves a walking track called the Piste de Cinque Sedes. Orchids can be found in the woodland around the car park and also in the field on the opposite side of the road. Anacamptis laxiflora, Anacamptis champagneuxii, Serapias olbia, Serapias neglecta, Serapias cordigera, Serapias vomeracea, Limodorum abortivum, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys vetula.
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