Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera)
I´ll say it again, La Mancha is not a dust bowl of sleepy villages but a vibrant region of colour. Every spring there is a myriad of orchids screaming for your attention in the country. The variety and colour is fantastic. Take this Sawfly Orchid for example. It´s amazing how they evolve to get the distinct shapes for certain pollinating insects.
Or this pink Butterfly Orchid.
Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea)
The subtler yet densely foliated Toothed Orchid.
Toothed Orchid (Orchis tridentata conica)
And finally an example of the many hybrids that can be seen.
Orchis champagneuxii x Orchis papilionacea
