Field guide of
the orchids in Sierra de Mijas (Benalmadena)
Spain
In comparison with other European nations, in our country there are many
divulgative books dealing with flora and fauna. Nevertheless there exist
numerous studies that circulate exclusively along university departments
and are not very known by the citizens. Since the 1970’s, fields guides
dealing with the flora of the Iberian Peninsula began to be edited and,
later, guides about orchids have been published in Granada, Almería and
other zones of interest. In spite of these latest editions there is still
a lot to investigate.
In our study we try, as far as possible, to fill in this gap and contribute
to the knowledge of the flora at the Sierra de Mijas (Benalmádena, Málaga,
Spain). With this purpose we have visited weekly, during the years between
2000, 2001 and 2002, eleven routes which cover all the hillsides of the
mountain. 28 species grouped in five types were found. If we compare
our catalogue with the only one which exists about the flora at the Sierra
de Mijas, we can say that we have increased it in 9 species (Ophrys
picta, O.bilunnulata, O.lupercalis, Orchis langei, O.conica, Serapias
lingua,
S.strictiflora, Anacamptis pyramidalis). Afterwards we carry out a dicotomic
key to identify the species, using the most evident criteria. In the
same way we describe the 28 species found in a more extended way, including
the best photographs and maps of distribution we have obtained in these
3 periods of searching. We need to point out the description of a hypocromatic
specimen of Ophrys tenthredinifera we have proposed as a variety of “alba”.
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