33 Did you know that... Cyprus has more than twenty rare species of orchids? Cyprus has more than 45 species of orchids, 4 of which are endemic. Ophrys Kotschyi (Melissaki in Greek) is an endemic orchid, listed as a priority species and widely found on the island. O. Kotschyi usually forms small colonies of less than 50 plants. The whole population amounts to at least 2000 individual plants. Most of the O. Kotschyi locations occur close to inhabited areas and some of them have already been extinct due to land development, thus decreasing the species geographical distribution. In Greek mythology, Orchis was the son of an ugly nymph and a satyr. During the festive events that were taking place in honour of Bacchus, he committed sacrilege by attempting to rape a priestess. His punishment was to be savaged by wild animals. His grieving father prayed to the Gods to show compassion for him and they turned him into a frail and humble flower, the orchid.
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