As its name suggests O. attica was first described (in 1859) from the Attica region of eastern
Greece.
Along with its close cousin O. umbilicata this plant was previously better known as the Mount
Carmel orchid and over the years has been described as a variety or sub-species of several
Ophrys including very recently, O. scolopax. Its rightful grouping and nomenclature is subject
to ongoing expert debate but with few firm results at present. Like all good controversies we are confident the story will run for some while yet.
It has currently found a home as one of six species in the O. umbilicata group, all of whose members reside in the eastern Mediterranean and near east. O. attica's range extends from southern Albania, through Greece and the Aegean to Anatolia. On the mainland of Greece it's range brings it into contact with O. umbilicata and in the Aegean, notably Lesbos, O. bucephala.
It is however distinguished from the former by its green sepals and petals and from the latter by
its much less sturdy build and smaller flowers. It's habitat requirement seems quite undemanding and it may be found in most calcareous environments up to about 1000m.
O. attica grows up to about 30cms and its fairly dense inflorescence may contain up to a dozen flowers. More usually however its a lower growing plant with some 4 to 8 flowers. The photo's
are from the Aegean island of Lesbos ( early April) and Cyprus (early March) .
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