Observation of Ophrys querciphila in the Garrotxa Region

Following a morning expedition in Osona, we moved to a specific location in the Garrotxa region with the aim of observing Himantoglossum hircinum. In this very spot, we were pleased to document the presence of Ophrys querciphila, an orchid species officially described in 2017, whose name literally means "the friend of the oak," a clear reference to its ecological preference.

This observation took place in a typical Quercus forest environment, the preferred habitat for O. querciphila, which is deeply linked to these scrublands and Quercus woodlands. This slender and tall orchid, capable of reaching a considerable height, displayed a lax inflorescence with medium-sized flowers. It is distinguished by its large, primarily sepi-like labellum, and its petals feature short but clearly visible hairiness along their margins. Its late flowering period typically occurs from mid-May to mid or late June, a timeframe that aligns with its discovery. Garrotxa, situated within the northeastern quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula, is one of the areas where the expansion of this Franco-Iberian endemism has been evidenced, thus this finding enriches our understanding of its local distribution.