The orchids are a fascination to all that visit North Cyprus for their rarity and beauty. The wild orchid flora comprises 32 confirmed species and subspecies, some which bear similarity to the European varieties such as pyramidal and autumn lady tresses orchids - but there are also many more exotic species including the naked man orchid, tongue-flowered serapias and the violet limodore, which can be found anywhere from rocky mountainsides to shady tree roots.

Familiar lowland species include the monkey orchid, holy orchid and bug orchid. The smallest are the bee orchids, which look akin to, and even smell like, female wasps. Male wasps are attracted to the orchid, believing it is a female, so when they fly off after having realised their error, they carry the flower’s pollen away with them. Two species, the Cyprus bee orchid and the Lapithos bee orchid are endemic to Cyprus. The best place to see bee orchids is at the herbarium at the Alevkaya forest station in North Cyprus. The other plant you should not miss is the Golden Drop, a species unique to the island, whose golden bells pop out from furry green pods.

Orchis italica Perennial herbs with two ovoid or ellipsoid tubers. Leaves up to 10, bright green, rosulate, Stem erect up to 50 cm, with cailine leaves. Infloresence dense and many flowered. The flowers resemble a naked man. Pinkish-white with pink dots. Species grows in grigue, in maqiue, or under Pine forest, sometimes in damp grassy hillsides on calcerous soils from sea-leavel to 1000m. Flowering period March-April.	Dactylorhiza romana Perennial herbs with 2-3 tubers. Stem erect, up to 35cm. Leaves up to 10, mostly rosulate, oblong to linear-lanceolate. Infloresence few to many flowered, cylindirical, lax or dense. Flowers spurred, bright yellow or pale yellow coloured and unspotted. Species grows at dry rocky places in Pine forests, often in association with Orchis morio ssp. Picta from 150 to 1000m. Flowering period March – May.	Neotinea maculata Tuberous perennial herbs. Stem up to 40 cm, pinkish-purple and glaucous. Leaves rosulate and cauline, 2-6, spotted or unspotted. Infloresence dense, many flowered. Flowers white, yellowish, pink or pinkish-purple. Species grows in garig, under Pinus or Cupressus foreste, usually on calcerous soils from 100 to 1000m. Flowering period March – April	Orchis papilonacea Tuberous perennial herbs, with stem up to 50 cm. Leaves up to 10, mostly rosulate, unspotted. Infloresence up to 14 flowered, lax or dense. Flowers dark pink, red to purple with darker nerves and spots. Species grows in garigue or in dry grassy places on calcerous soils near the sea-level. Flowering period March-April.

Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall. Perennial herbs, roots tuberous and fleshy, stem up to 35 cm. Leaves unspotted, fleshy, basal and cauline. Infloresence spirally twisted, flowers numerous, white, scented.Species grows on grassy banks and in sand dunes, .acier garigue 01 Pinus from sea-level to 300 m. Flowering period September-November.	Orchis simia Perennial herbs with two ovoid or ellipsoid tubers. Stem erect up to 45cm. Leaves 3-6, bright green, unspotted, rosulate and sometimes with stem leaves. Insloresence dense and many flowered. Flowers white with dark pink tips.Species grows in garigue, and grassy places, on stony slopes, in Pine forsest, on calcerous soils from 500 to 1000m. Flowersing period April – May.	Ophrys bornmuelleri ssp. Bornmuelleri Distinguished from O. bornmuelleri ssp. bornmuelleri by its with more compact and less elongated infloresence, up to 7 flowered. Labellum brownish, hairy, with creamy yellow shoulders and h-shape, below shoulders, without creamyyellow bordered. Species grows at damp grassy places, in garigue, under Pine or Cypress, on calcerous soils from 100 to 700 m. Flowering period March-April.	Orchis collina Tuberous perennial herbs. Stem up to 40 cm, rather fleshy often red or purplish. Leaves rosulate and cauline, dark green. Infloresence lax, up to 20 flowered. Flowers variable in colour ranging from violet to creamy white. Species grows in garigue or in sandy or stony places mostly on calcerous soils from sea-level to 400 m. Flowering period February-March.

Limodorum abortivum (L.) Swartz. Plants usually robust. Stem is thick, erect, up to 80 cm, violet, violet-red or bluish-violet and resembles an asparagus. Infloresence a spike-like raceme up to 25 flowered. Sepals and petals pale to dark violet. Species grows in Pine forests, dry grassy places, on calcerous soils from 800 to 1000 m. Flowering period April-June.	Serapias vomeracea (Burm.fil.) Briq.ssp. orientalis W.Greuter Perennial herbs up to 30 cm. Leaves 4-6, broadly lanceolate bluish to yellowish-green. Infloresence condensed with 3-6 flowered. Flowers of all Serapias species have a lip divided into two, a front section and 2 side section. The front section reminds a tongue. This sub-species has larger front lip or tongue than the S. vomeracea ssp. laxiflora. Species grows in damp calcerous or slightly acidic soils under Olive or Pine trees from sea-level to 400 m. Flowering period March-May.	Serapias vomeracea ssp. Laxiflora Perennial herbs up to 60 cm. Leaves 4-7, linear to lanceolate unspotted. Infloresence elongate with up to 10 flowered. All Serapias flowers, just like Ophrys flowers have simillar shape, resemble a tongue and this sub-species has smaller front lip or tongue than S. vomeracea ssp. orientalis.Species grows primarily in calcerous damp soils from sea-level to 800 m. Flowering period March-April	Serapias parviflora. Ophrys fusca ssp. Fusca erennial herbs with two ovoid tubers. Leaves up to 6, rosulate, narrow or broad elliptic. Infloresence lax, up to S flowered. Labellum, which resembles an insect in outline, is brownish with two paler eye-shaped dots near its top, and a narrowyellow margin is characteristic. Species grows under Pine, Cypress, Olive or Cistus, in garigue or at limestone hills or on calcerous places from sea-level to 1000 m. Flowering period February-April .

Ophrys fusca ssp. Fleischmanii Perennial herbs with two ovoid tubers. Leaves up to 6, rosulate, narrow or broad ellipti0c. Infloresence lax, up to 10 insect shaped flowered. Labellum is brownish-yellowish and white w-shaped line divide it into two clear parts.Species grows in garigue or under Pine forests, on calcerous soils from SOO to 1000 m. Flowering period February-April.	Ophrys fusca ssp. tricolor Perennial herbs with two ovoid tubers. Leaves up to 6, rosulate, narrow or broad elliptic. Infloresence lax, up to 5 insect shaped flowered. Labellum is brownish with two blue eye-shaped dots near its top. Species grows, in garigue or under Pinus or Cistus, from sea-level to 1000 m. Flowering period February-April.	Ophrys lutea ssp. galilaea Perennial herbs with two ovoid tubers. Stem up to 40 cm. Leaves 4-8, all basal forming a rosette. Infloresence lax, up to 7 flowered. Insect shaped flowers resemble O. fusca ssp. fusca but düs one has wider yellow margin. Species grows in garigue or stony places under Pines or Olives on calcerous soils from sea-level to 1000 m. Flowering period February-April.	Ophyrs bornmuelleri ssp. grandiflora P erennial herbs with two tubers. Stem up to 40 cm. Leaves 3-4, all basal except 1 at stem. Subspecies bornmuelleri with very lax, elongated infloresence, up to IS flowered. Labellum, brownish, hairy, with cream) yellow shoulders and creamy yellow bordered h-shape below shoulders. Species grows in garigue, under pines or at grassy places, on calcerous soils from sea-level to 1000 m. Flowering period March-April.

Ophrys sphegodes ssp. Mammosa Perennial herbs with two oblong or ovoid tubers. Stem up to 80 cm., bearing upto 4 cauline leaves. Infloresence lax up to 10 flowered. Insect shaped parts of the flowers blackish and has bright purplish h-shaped lines. Species grows in garigue or under Pines, on calcerous soils from sea-level to 1000m. Flowering period March-June.	Ophrys sphegodes ssp. Transhyrcana Distinguished from O. sphegodes Mammosa by its narrower insect shaped parts (Labellum) of flowers. Special grows in garigue or under Pines, often in damp places, on calcerous soils from 100 to 1000 m. Flowering period March-April.	Ophrys apifera var. Chlorantha Perennial herbs with two globose tubers. Leaves up to 9, dark greei mostly rosulate. Stem up to 50 cm., bearing 1-2 cauline leaves. Infloresenc lax, up to 17 flowered. Labellum entire, green, yellowish-green or pink, with distinct appendage at its lower end and two yellowish dots above the appendage. Horshoe shaped dots near the neck of the labellum.Species grows on sandy or on calcerous soils, approximately at 200 m.Flowering period April.	Ophrys argolica ssp. elegans Perennial herbs with two small globose or ovoid tubers. Leaves 3-4 mostly basal. Stem up to 35 cm., bearing 2-3 cauline leaves. Infloresence lax, up to 6 flowered. Labellum nearly entire, pale pinkish-violet, lilac or purple, with soft hairs on the shoulders. Central area of the labellum with spectacle shaped metalic purple spot. Species grows at grassy, shady places under Pine, Cypress, in garigue or on sand dunes or on calcerous soils from sea-level to 1000 m. Flowering period February-March.

Ophrys kotschyi Perennial herbs with two ovoid tubers. Leaves dark green, all basal except 1 at stem. Infloresence up to 10 flowered. Sepals pale pink with green nerves and petals olive green, purple tinged at center. Shoulders hairy and tips yellow tinged. Only Cyprus endemic orchid species. Species grows at grassy, shady places under Pine, Cypress, also under Acacia and Eucalyptus, in garigue or on sand dunes or on calcerous soils from sea-level to 1000m. Flowering period March-April.	Ophrys scolopax Perennial herbs with two globose or eliptic tubers. Leaves up to 10 and groupped at the base. Stem up to 60 cm. Infloresence lax, up to 12 flowered. Insect shaped part of the flower narrower, brownish with purplish neck. Shoulders hairy and appendage tri-lobed. Species grows at shady places under Pine or Cypress, in garigue or on dry turf from 100 to 1000m. Flowering period March-June	Ophrys umbilicata ssp. Umbilicata Perennial herbs with two tubers. Leaves up to 8, mostly basal. Stem up to 45 cm with 1-2 cauline leaves. Infloresence up to 12 flowered. Insect shaped part labellum with white bordered brownish spots, one at the center and two below shoulders. Shoulders hairy and labellum with yellowish appendage at the bottom.Species grows at variable habitats from sea-level to 800 m. Flowering period March-April.	Ophrys umbilicata ssp. attica Distinguished from O. Umblicata ssp. Umbilicata by its longer shoulders, wider labellum and smaller yellowish appendage at the bottom. Species grows in garigue, shady places under Pine, Cypress, or in dry turf, on calcerous soils from sea-level to 300 m . Flowering period March-April

Barlia robertiana Herbaceous perennials with 2-3 large tubers. Leaves 5-8 large, unspotted and grouped at the base of the stem. Cauline leaves amplexicaul and much smaller. Stem up to 80 cm. Infloresence long, many flowered. Flowers large, scented, white or pink with central area white and spotted pinkish. Monotypic genus, widespread in the world from sea-level to 500 m. Flowering period February-March.	Barlia robertiana Herbaceous perennials with 2-3 large tubers. Leaves 5-8 large, unspotted and grouped at the base of the stem. Cauline leaves amplexicaul and much smaller. Stem up to 80 cm. Infloresence long, many flowered. Flowers large, scented, white or pink with central area white and spotted pinkish. Monotypic genus, widespread in the world from sea-level to 500 m. Flowering period February-March.	Orchis morio ssp. picta Tuberous perennial herbs, with stem up to 70 cm. Leaves up to 9, mostly rosulate sometimes 1-2 cauline, unspotted. Flowers yellowish-green, yellow or brownish-yellow with reddish dotts. Species grows in garigue, on dry stony or sandy slopes, on calcerous soils from 100 to 300 m. Flowering period February.	Orchis coriophora ssp. fragrans Tuberous perennial herbs. Stem up to 60 cm. Leaves rosulate up to 10 and with several leaves above, unspotted. Infloresence dense and many flowered. Flowers purple, red or reddish purple, three red spotted and sweet scented. Species grows in garigue and dry grassy places and by the roadsides on calcerous soils from sea-leve;l to 600 m. Flowering period April-May.