The scented bug orchid

The scented bug orchid, known in Maltese as orkida tfuħ, is a variable plant with a dense flower spike. It grows in garigue, rocky steppes and abandoned fields throughout the Mediterranean, except in Cyprus and the far eastern part as well as in Central Europe and western Asia. The flower scent varies form an unpleasant ‘bed-bug odour’ to a sweet scent.

Orchids are found in almost every habitat apart from deserts and glaciers. 

The great majority are to be found in the tropics mostly Asia, South America and Central America. They are found above the Arctic Circle, in southern Patagonia and even on islands close to Antartica.

Botanists do not agree about the total number of orchid species. Some accept 22,000 species but the number may be as high as 25,000.  

This is about four times the number of mammal species or more than twice the number of bird species. About 800 new species are described every year and since the 19^th century horticultarists have created more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.   

Some scientists believe that orchids have been in existance for over 100 million years. A scientific study has shown that the origin of orchids goes back much longer than originally expected. 

An extinct species of stingless bee was found trapped in miocene amber which formed about 15-20 million years ago. The bee was carrying pollen of a previously unknown orchid on its wings. 

This find is the first evidence of fossilised orchids to date. This indicates that orchids may have an ancient origin and have arisen 76 to 84 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. In other words, they may have co-existed with dinasours. It shows also that at that time insects were active pollinators of orchids. 

According to another study the overall present distribution pattern of orchids shows that they are even older and may go back roughly 100 million years.

This article was published in The Times on 29 April 2009.

The early orchids

Fan-lipped orchid

We have several of species of orchids in the Maltese islands. The best time to see many of them in flower is in March but some species flower earlier or later than that and to see all of them one needs to look for them throughout the flowering season.

From a botanical point of view I prefer to think of the year as starting in September which is the month when we usually get the first substantial rains after summer. 

The earliest orchid to flower is thus the autumn ladies tresses which is in flower as early as October and November. 

This is a very small innocuous plant with white or pale green flowers growing in a spiral around a vertical spike. It is a rare species which I have not seen for a number of years. In Maltese it is known as ħajja u mejta meaning ‘dead and alive’ a name generally given to all orchids because they are characterised by having two tubers one of which is swollen and the other shrivelled.

In December one can find the Cretan blue orchid (dubbiena bikrija). This was formerly known as the brown orchid and was considered as a very variable species. Some botanists now believe that this is not one species but three each of which has distinguishing characteristics but one needs to examine them carefully to be able to tell them apart.

Last weekend while taking pictures at Wardija I found the fan-lipped orchid (orkida ħamra) and very soon I expect to find an early flowering species, the scented bug orchid (orkida tfuħ). Soon after that another species which in recent years was renamed will appear - the conical orchid (orkida tat-tikek). This was formerly known as the milky orchid.

The last orchid to flower is the common pyramidal orchid (orkida piramidali) which can be seen in flower in April and May when the surrounding vegetation has already started to dry up and shrivel. 

The changing nomenclature of this group of plants can sometimes be very confusing and frustrating but this should not put people off from enjoying their beauty. This is the best time to start looking for orchids and to start a photographic collection of all the local species. 

All one has to do is to dedicate a few enjoyable hours every week to wander in the countryside. Orchids can be difficult to find but once you see one plant you will start seeing others in the vicinity and then you start wondering how you could have missed seeing them earlier. 

This article was published in The Times on 12.01.11