O. argentaria was first described by Devillers-Terschuren and Devillers from Monte Argentaria in 1991 and is a member of the O. exaltata group.
This Ophrys is an Italian endemic ranging from La Spezia in the north to the Latium region south of Rome. As its name suggests O. argentaria is at its most frequent in the Grosetto area of southern Tuscany and it's here that its range overlaps with several other closely related species. There are four other similar Ophrys taxons that may be found in flower concurrently with O. argentaria between March and early May, namely O. minipassionis, O. classica O. maritima and O. tarquinia. Aside from pollinators, none of these species exhibit truly unique characteristics that guarantee identification and years of introgression have created intermediate populations that further complicate differentiation.
The following characteristics are typical of O. argentaria but as can be seen from the photographs, it is a variable species which as mentioned above may also have received significant gene interference. 1. Most importantly it is the smallest flowered of the four species. 2. The specular pattern is usually complex, often extensive and fragmented with extensions, marbling and ocelli. 3. Basal swellings are normally small or absent. 3; It tends to be a shorter plant, slender and with a lax inflorescence, frequently containing fewer than six individual flowers.
O. argentaria is a localized orchid but can grow in large numbers in favoured sites. All the photographs come from Tuscany, between Sienna and Monte Argentaria, dating from the first week of April.
This Ophrys is an Italian endemic ranging from La Spezia in the north to the Latium region south of Rome. As its name suggests O. argentaria is at its most frequent in the Grosetto area of southern Tuscany and it's here that its range overlaps with several other closely related species. There are four other similar Ophrys taxons that may be found in flower concurrently with O. argentaria between March and early May, namely O. minipassionis, O. classica O. maritima and O. tarquinia. Aside from pollinators, none of these species exhibit truly unique characteristics that guarantee identification and years of introgression have created intermediate populations that further complicate differentiation.
The following characteristics are typical of O. argentaria but as can be seen from the photographs, it is a variable species which as mentioned above may also have received significant gene interference. 1. Most importantly it is the smallest flowered of the four species. 2. The specular pattern is usually complex, often extensive and fragmented with extensions, marbling and ocelli. 3. Basal swellings are normally small or absent. 3; It tends to be a shorter plant, slender and with a lax inflorescence, frequently containing fewer than six individual flowers.
O. argentaria is a localized orchid but can grow in large numbers in favoured sites. All the photographs come from Tuscany, between Sienna and Monte Argentaria, dating from the first week of April.
.