Orchids

The Coruh basin provides the perfect growing conditions for orchids. An astonishing number of orchids can be found in the water meadows or in the damp grass next to the region’s innumerable streams and rivers. In all the wet flushes the common orchid you will see are the statuesque Dactylorhizas: Euxina, Flavscens, Osmanica, Umbrosa and Urvilleana. They are all similar red-purple spikes with upward-pointing leaves, often with spots, and flower around the same time in May-June, along with Bug Orchids, (Orchis coriophora) and dull, spiky Serapias. Red helleborine (Cephelanthera rubra) and the Pinewood Orchid (Orchis mascula ss pinetorum) grow in pinewoods. Dactylorhiza Osmanica and Dactylorhiza Umbrosa are widely distributed throughout the valleys and spangle numerous high meadows, especially the summer meadows above Yedigol, where the orchids make a magnificent display until late July. Near Yaylalar the Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula ssp. Pinetorum) and the Irish Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza euxina) are hidden amongst the bushes and pastures. The Red Helleborine (Cephalantera rubra) is not only found on the mountain slopes of Yaylalar, but also blooms on the Devedagı Pass, where Dactylorhiza flavescens grows in abundance. In addition, the Kılıckaya and Sırakonaklar valleys host the Dactylorhiza urvilleana, which blossom in the summer.

Bellflowers

Two of the most beautiful bellflower species can only grow under the unique climatic conditions of the Coruh Valley. The Campanula choruhensis with its delicate pale pink flowers blooms profusely on rocks just above Yesilyurt, a village near the town of Ispir. The hardly less lovely Campanula troegera also blooms in the narrow valleys of the region. The lush deep-purple bunches of the Milky Bellflower (Campanula lactiflora) border the rushing streams of the Sirakonaklar Valley. Many other bellflowers like the Pale Bellflower (C. Bononiensis) and the Campanula macrochlamys are to be found among the meadows and the precipices of the Coruh River basin. Damp-loving Primulas include the mop-headed pink Primula algida and P. auriculata, the Primrose in both yellow (P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) and pink (subsp. megacalyx) and the Cowslip (P. elatior) with a purple variety.
 The obvious high-level shrubs are deep-green leaved, white-flowered Rhododendron caucasium.

Irises

The Coruh region is famous for its many different species of Iris which flourish both in the valleys and high mountains. Iris taochia is a yellow endemic found in the gorge near Ispir and Iris caucasica is a green-yellow miniature meadow Iris.
The purple-coloured Bearded Iris (Iris Germanica) adorns the fields. These enchanting purple or yellow flowers, which are named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, can be found everywhere in the region of the Coruh. The rare species of Iris Sibirica grows on the slopes of the alpine meadows.

Other Plants


Spectacular Crimson Peony (Paeonia Mascula) covers a whole hillside on the road north from Ispir; the creamy Caucasian Peony (Paeonia Wittmanniana) is only known from a few sites in Turkey; one is in the Coruh area. 
Tiny snowmelt bulbs include pink Colchicum Szovitsii, deep brown Fritillaria Latifolia and deep blue Muscari spp., Gentiana Verna Pontica is the bright blue Snowmelt Gentian. Later, meadow bulbs include a yellow or red Tulip, (Tulipa Julia) and the purple Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus Kotschyanus); Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogallum) comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, all with a green centre to the white flower. On the valley sides grow Capers (Cappari spinosa), the Yellow-Flowered Barberry (Berberis Crataegina), the dangerous Thorns-of-Christ (Paliurus Spina-christi), and Dog Roses (Rosa Canina). Next to the patches of lush green cultivated land there are delightful wildflowers. One very rare species of flower of outstanding beauty is Neotchichatchevia Isatidea. The deep purple bunches of flowers with their green stems and leaves rise out of loose stones on rocky fields beside the road. This region is host to many interesting species like the Sophora Root (Sophora alopecuroides) whose cream-coloured flowers grace the sandbanks of the riverbed. Nearby are the bright pink flowers of the Pelargonium Enlicherianum – also known as Geranium – which stand out against the grey rocks.

Practical Information


There are currently believed to be about 90 species endemic to the Coruh, but the climate and the terrain make scientific investigation difficult; new species are being discovered every year. The Alpine Garden Society’s ‘Bulbous Plants of Turkey and Iran’ is an illustrated guide to bulbs, and ‘The Most Beautiful Wildflowers of Turkey’ by Erdogan Tekin, is a non-specialist’s guide to 1000 species, with attractive photographs.
 There are few bilingual Turkish botanic guides but some foreign firms run botanic tours of the area.