D. markusii was first described from Palermo (Sicily) in 1846 and named in honour of Doctor Markus -
doctor to the then Russian empress ?
This is a rare orchid of the D. sambucina group which has a western Mediterranean distribution very
similar to that of A. longicornu IE:- north Africa, the Balaeric Islands, southern Italy, Sicily, Malta
and Sardinia. It grows on neutral to acidic substrates in full sun or mid shade and shows a preference
for open montane woodland. D. markusii can very easily be confused with D. romana though their
individual habitat preferences limit (but by no means eliminate) contact between the two species.
The pictures here come from the Ficuzza forest in Sicily and the plants were found at a significantly
higher altitude than the far more numerous D. romana. Nonetheless there are contact zones and
differentiating the two can be difficult for the amateur. The following points are indicators of identity for D. markusii when comparing to D. romana :- 1. The lateral lobes are more heavily scalloped ( photo's
2 and 7 illustrate this very well). 2. The bracts are slightly longer and even in a fully opened flower
spike they protrude above the tip of the inflorescence (See photo 3). 3. D. markusii is invariably a
yellowish white colour and although a red variety has been recorded from Sicily, red flowered plants
other than in Sicily will be D. romana and even in Sicily the odds ar very high that that is still the case.
This species is an early flowerer and by mid April in Sicily they were well past their best at a time when
D. romana was still in its prime, even at significantly lower altitudes.
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