Ophrys × sancticyrensis and family in the Empordà region

Our first stop of the day in the Alt Empordà region was truly memorable, a testament to the rich orchid biodiversity that this area generously offers. Our primary goal was to locate a fascinating hybrid: Ophrys × sancticyrensis, the result of a cross between Ophrys forestieri and Ophrys passionis.

We had the immense fortune of finding this beautiful hybrid exactly where we expected. But the surprise didn't end there! Right in the vicinity, we documented both of its "parents": a robust population of Ophrys passionis, with a dozen specimens, and a magnificent solitary individual of Ophrys forestieri. Finding the hybrid in the company of its parental species is always a special moment for any orchidologist, a living lesson in natural genetic dynamics.

As icing on the cake, the site also gifted us with an exuberant population of Himantoglossum robertianum, numbering no less than forty-eight specimens! A true explosion of life and forms in a privileged corner. These findings reaffirm the importance of conserving these habitats, true sanctuaries for our wild orchids.