Language: Bilingual in English and German
For many people who are interested in botany, and especially those who want to get to know the orchids of the eastern Mediterranean region, Cyprus was and is a popular travel destination. Almost every nature-enthusiast, who is interested in Mediterranean orchids, has visited Cyprus once, or maybe even several times. This can be explained by the fact that many eastern Mediterranean and very rare orchid species occur on this island, for example Epipactis condensata, Epipactis veratrifolia, Ophrys bornmuelleri, Ophrys flavomarginata, Ophrys lapethica and Orchis punctulata, and these species are easily accessible. Cyprus presents an abundance of orchid biotopes and a multitude of species, some of which are endemic, especially in the southern and central parts of the island. Unfortunately, nowadays many habitats, especially in the coastal regions, are threatened by, or have already been lost to mass tourism.
The most recent status of research into the orchid flora of Cyprus, which is characterized by its beauty and its interesting pollination biology, is documented in The Orchids of Cyprus / Die Orchideen von Zypern. All data that was at the disposal of the author can be found in this book, supplemented by the knowledge and experience of the author. Besides chapters on geography, the landscapes of Cyprus and its orchids, climate, vegetation, conservation and threats, The Orchids of Cyprus / Die Orchideen von Zypern also treats the taxonomy and nomenclature of the entire orchid flora of Cyprus. Special attention is given to the species groups of Ophrys sphegodes-mammosa and Serapias. Furthermore, doubtful findings or false identifications are dealt with in detailed argument. Numerous photographic images of all orchid species are shown. Moreover, some hybrids, as well as many biotopes are also pictured. Detailed distribution maps in a UTM-2 km grid give an overview of the distribution of the 52 orchid species of Cyprus, which are known up to now.