This recently recognized subspecies of A. morio was formally described and named as subsp. caucasica from Georgia in 2007 by Kretzschmar, Eccarius and Dietyr, though it is also known by the synonyms A. morio subsp. albanica and Heroica caucasica. It is named after the mountainous region of the Caucasus from which it was first found.
Its range is somewhat uncertain but as its name suggests, is widespread throughout the Caucasus, the near east, Balkans and has most recently been discovered in the islands of the Aegean and adjacent Turkish coast. It seems likely that A. morio subsp. caucasica is distributed more widely than this and further discoveries will almost certainly follow. The principle differences between this species and A. morio itself are as follows :- 1. The flower is smaller. 2. The lateral lobes of the lip are usually more tightly folded back. 3. The inflorescence generally carries more individual flowers. 4. The median lobe of the lip is longer than the lateral lobes. This latter feature is perhaps the most significant differentiating characteristic.
With the similar and some consider debatable A. picta, the lobes tend to be of similar lengths and are always flared rather than folded back. Another worthwhile if not diagnostic feature of caucasica is the overall appearance of the plant which tends to be tall, slender stemmed and with a neat and fairly compact spike of small flowers. The first picture illustrates this point very well.
The photos are from Lesbos and Samos, dating from the first week of April at which time they were in full flower. Populations in cooler regions would appear later and into late May.
Its range is somewhat uncertain but as its name suggests, is widespread throughout the Caucasus, the near east, Balkans and has most recently been discovered in the islands of the Aegean and adjacent Turkish coast. It seems likely that A. morio subsp. caucasica is distributed more widely than this and further discoveries will almost certainly follow. The principle differences between this species and A. morio itself are as follows :- 1. The flower is smaller. 2. The lateral lobes of the lip are usually more tightly folded back. 3. The inflorescence generally carries more individual flowers. 4. The median lobe of the lip is longer than the lateral lobes. This latter feature is perhaps the most significant differentiating characteristic.
With the similar and some consider debatable A. picta, the lobes tend to be of similar lengths and are always flared rather than folded back. Another worthwhile if not diagnostic feature of caucasica is the overall appearance of the plant which tends to be tall, slender stemmed and with a neat and fairly compact spike of small flowers. The first picture illustrates this point very well.
The photos are from Lesbos and Samos, dating from the first week of April at which time they were in full flower. Populations in cooler regions would appear later and into late May.
