Ophrys sphegodes, Miller, 1768

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 346

6. O. sphegodes Miller ,

Gard. Diet. ed. 8, no. 8 (1768) (O. aranifera Hudson ).

Plant 10-45 cm. Basal leaves ovate-lanceo­ late, obtuse, usually mucronate. Spike 2- to 10-flowered, lax. Perianth-segments glabrous, rarely papillose; outer 6-10(-12) mm, oblong-ovate to -lanceolate, more or less obtuse, green, rarely purplish or whitish, the median usually narrower; inner perianth-segments 4-8 mm, at least 1 /2 as long as the outer and usually narrower, oblong-triangular to -lanceolate, green, green­ ish-purple or brownish-red, 1 - to 3-veined, usually with undulate margin. Labellum with margins deflexed or flattened, orbicular to ovate, velutinous, rarely with a small appendage, not globose- inflated; speculum usually H-shaped (the cross-line sometimes absent), rarely scutelliform, bluish-violet or blackish-purple. Connective acute.

W., C. & S. Europe, northwards to S. England and C. Germany and eastwards to Krym.

Al Au Be B 1 Br Bu Co Cr Cz Ga Ge Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (K) Sa Si Tu.

1 Labellum with velutinous speculum (g) subsp. helenae

1 Labellum with glabrous speculum

2 Labellum wider than long (I) subsp. aesculapii

2 Labellum at least as long as wide 3 Labellum 8-15(-17)x 8—14(-17) mm, blackish-brown or -purple, with large basal protuberances

4 Inner perianth-segments wide, ±obtuse; labellum densely long-villous-velutinous; speculum H-shaped or U-shaped, rarely scutelliform, often extending to the protuberances (d) subsp. atrata

4 Inner perianth-segments narrow, rather acute; labellum shortly velutinous; speculum H-shaped or with the cross-line absent (e) subsp. mammosa

3 Labellum 5-12x5-12 mm, pale to dark brown, rarely blackish-brown or yellowish, with or without basal pro­ tuberances

5 Labellum (8-) 10-12 x 8-12 mm (a) subsp. sphegodes

5 Labellum 5—10 x 5-10 mm

6 Flowers usually 6-10, rarely fewer; inner perianth- segments 1 -veined (b) subsp. litigiosa

6 Flowers usually 3-5, rarely more; inner perianth-segments 3-veined (c) subsp. tommasinii