Species name :

Ophrys bombyliflora var. parviflora(Mifsud) Mifsud
Published in J. Eur. Orch. 46: 684 (2014)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Ophrys bombyliflora var. parviflora Mifsud

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [WFO] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Orchidaceae Juss. (The Orchid Family)
41 species from the Orchidaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Small-flowered Bumble-Bee Orchid

Maltese name(s) :

Brimba griża żgħira

Status for Malta :

Endemic. Occurs only on the Maltese islands

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Monocotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Geophyte ( perennials bearing underground bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, stolons, etc. )

Legal Protection :

Protected by law: Regulation 26 of [S.L. 549.44] (Strictly protected endemic species)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

March

Colour of Flowers:

Brown or Dark

Toxicity:

Not particularly toxic

Name Derivation :

Ophrys: Eyebrow, referring to the brown, furry edges found in the flowering lips of several. (Latin origin)

bombyliflora var. parviflora: ()

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines

Remarks :

Described by Stephen Mifsud from a homogenous population of small-flowered specimens from Pembroke and later from Bingemma area. A new form of Ophrys bombyliflora described by Stephen Mifsud in the Journal of European Orchids (Dec 2009). Unless reported from other countries, this plant is so far regarded as endemic. It differs from the normal form of Ophrys bombyliflora by having significantly smaller flowers (2/3rds the size). A population of more than 100 specimens all had such small flowers, while another population was found at l/o Rabat and had less specimens and was not as well established as the holotype. Further details and other minor differences can be read in the corresponding paper:


Mifsud Stephen (2009). A NEW FORM OF OPHRYS BOMBYLIFLORA LINK DESCRIBED FROM MALTA, Journal of European Orchids 41(3/4): 611-622 Malta, Dec 2009. Abstract: A new form, Ophrys bombyliflora Link forma parviflora S. Mifsud is described for plants with significantly smaller lips from the typical form of O. bombyliflora and with a bright, contrasting speculum. These plants were observed as homogenous populations in 2 different sites in Malta, isolated from populations of the locally common Ophrys bombyliflora Link.