
In
many ways the
most
interesting genus of European
orchids, the flowers that almost everyone
would
recognise as orchids, are renowned for their insect mimicry and many
are pollinated by specific insect species conned into trying to
copulate with the flower. The flowers are very distinct
from other genera, with usually spreading sepals and petals quite
different from the sepals, the lip is frequentlycharacterised by its
insect-like appearance.
Ophrys has the largest number of European species of any genus with well
over
200
described by Delforge although some authors suggest way less
than
50 species and therein lies a problem, species identification!
The insect pseudocopulation mentioned above provides an unusual
identification characteristic (studied by Charles Darwin) different
species being defined by the insect species that mates with it! Doesn't help when you are just looking at the flowers
We do not intend to argue the case for any particular approach other
than to say that recently we have used Delforge's book as our field
guide and it makes you look very carefully at plants
and
pick up small differences (unfortunately these often occur within a
single population of the same species), what you then call them is
really up to you.