With most of the hybrids included in our site, we have dealt with them within the page of
one or other of the parent species. Just occasionally however, one of these genetically mixed
plants is considered (in the humble opinion of the authors) to be of sufficient interest to
warrant an entry of its own, irrespective of its evolutionary significance.
This is such a hybrid.
It is a cross which realistically can only occur in a small area of the north west of the
island of Lesbos, because its here that there exists the contact zone between two of the Lesbos
orchid specialities - O. lesbis and O. bucephala. It is a rare hybrid indeed.
The single plant was found on a roadside verge close to the town of Andisa and some 100 yards
from the nearest orchid of any species. It was a statuesque plant of some 35 cms with more
growth to come. The flowers were large and distinctively marked with the bibbed speculum of
O. bucephala and the broad yellow margin of O. lesbis.
Lesbos is a very green island and on the day the plant was discovered the reason for the
islands verdancy was unfortunately all to apparent. It was a day of unremitting heavy rain
and the poor conditions did nothing to assist photography. We hope however you find the
orchid as interesting as we did.
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