This species was first described by Danesch and Danesch from Lecce, Italy in 1970. Its name means
"from Puglia" and O. apulica is indeed endemic to this area of southern Italy, where it is fairly
widespread and not at all uncommon.
Its range brings it into contact with several other fuciflorids ( O. fuciflora itself, O. oxyrrhnchos and
O. celiensis ) but it is usually quite easily distinguished by its significantly greater flower size and
strongly recurved and flared lip. It can also be differentiated by the length and overall size of the petals.
O. apulica strongly resembles related species found in other areas of Europe and notably O. pharia of
Hvar Island, Croatia and O. episcopalis from the Aegean. The former species, despite being currently resident in a different grouping ( O. heldreichii ), shows a great affinity with its more widespread
cousin across the Adriatic and its precise relationship is open to some question.
This is not a particularly variable orchid but as can be seen from the illustrations, the degree of lip
constriction and recurvature can show differences, with some plants tending towards the O. fuciflora
widely flared appearance ( photo 3) whilst others are tightly pinched back resembling a large member
of the O. scolopax group ( photo 1 ). The petals are invariably pink although as can be seen from photo 15, the sepals can occasionally be either very pale or rarely white.
The photograps come from the Gargano peninsula and neighbouring area's of Puglia.
