Visitors’ Site Guide
common Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora). Here, however, the Maltese Spider Orchid is the dominant species, despite being rarer. Pembroke is also home now to the dwarf endemic variety of the Bumblebee Orchid, known as Ophyrs bombyliflora var. parviflora, which has minute flowers compared to the more common relative variety. A few individuals of the normally very common Scented Bug Orchids (Orchis coriophora subsp. fragrans) can also be seen near the White Rocks complex. Serapias species in the area include a few scattered Small-flowered Tongue Orchids (Serapias parviflora), and the very rare Long-lipped Tongue Orchid (Serapias vomeracea) is thought to reside in the area. Other orchids found at this nature site include a few individuals of the Scented Bug Orchid (Orchis fragrans), also seen near the White Rocks complex.
(Sedum caeruleum), which gives the garigue a reddish colour, appealing to the season. Summer in this site also begins with the yellow coastal flowers of the Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum). By going through the species mentioned as above, one can see just how truly important Pembroke’s countryside is as an ecological haven, supporting several extremely rare and endangered plants, some of which are not found anywhere else on the islands. Its collection of lush vegetation and beautiful, intricate flowers, especially the orchids residing in the area, give reason for such a paradise to be conserved and protected, so that all that Pembroke boasts can be enjoyed and appreciated for generations to come.
While the small garigue rock-pools of the site are welcomed in Winter by the Maltese Waterwort (Elatine gussonei), which is a Pelagian-Maltese endemic, the summer dry rock pools are carpeted by the Blue Stonecrop
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Orkida tat-Tikek | Conical Orchid | Orchis conica
References sª
Tewm Irqiq ta’ Malta | Maltese Dwarf Garlic | Allium lojaconoi
Mifsud Stephen (2009), A new form of Ophrys bombyliflora Link described from Malta, Journal of European Orchids Volume 41, part 3 of 4 pp. 611-622