The Orchids of the Mountains of Alicante
Holiday accompanied by Michael Lowe

17 March 2007

The hills, valleys and mountains of northern Alicante are at their best in March, when the terraces of almonds are in full bloom and the spring flowers are fresh. Although less well known than Andalucía, the northern mountains have a rich orchid flora and many endemic wild flowers. The mountains of Alicante form the northern limits of the Baetic mountain range of southern and eastern Spain, which includes the Sierra Nevada. The Alicante Mountains are mainly composed of Cretaceous & Tertiary limestone’s and chalk, with a landscape of deep valleys between the high mountain belts (sierras). The climate is mild, 'Mesomediterranean', with a vegetation of remnant oak wood, now mainly replaced by 'garrigas, 'maquias' and 'tomillares' (bushes, dwarf shrub and steppe / rocky open ground) and some pine woods. Northern Alicante is a unique biogeographic area known as the Diánico subsector.

We hope to find at least 10 orchid species flowering in March:
Barlia robertiana (giant orchid)
Ophrys dianica (Dianic bee orchid, endemic to Alicante and Valencia)
O. lupercalis (early brown bee orchid)
O. lutea (yellow bee orchid)
O. dyris (omega bee orchid)
O. scolopax (woodcock orchid)
O. speculum (mirror orchid)
O. tenthredinifera (sawfly orchid)
Orchis italica (Italian orchid)
O. olbiensis (early purple orchid)



During the week it is planned to visit all the main habitats of northern Alicante. The provisional programme (in no particular order) is -

Day 1. The Río Serpis valley. Lorcha village and terraces and the Vall de Gallinera.
Day 2. Font Roja Natural Park oak woods and the Carrasqueta.
Day 3. Val de Laguart and Benimurell
Day 4. Sierra Helada (l'Albir), coastal walk and the Penyal d'Ifac.
Day 5. Sierra Montgó
Day 6. Cocentaina (free day in the town or walks amongst local hills).



For each days excursion it is planned to visit a number of localities, with plenty of time to explore, identify plants and take photographs. Walks will be generally gentle, but often over rocky ground. Frequent stops will be made at local bars for refreshments and tapas. Holiday based in Quatretondeta with mountainwalks.com.

Guide books:
Davies and Gibbons: Field Guide to Wild Flowers of southern Europe, Crowood Press (ISBN 1 85223659 0).
Piera, Crespo & Lowe: Las Orquideas de la Provincia de Alicante (in Spanish).
(Available from http://www.summerfieldbooks.com/)