This is a member of the O. omegaifera group with a range restricted to the central Aegean, from
the Cyclades in the north west to Samos and Paros in the south east. As with so many of the
less widespread Aegean Ophrys it also has an outpost on Crete.
Its range is a contracted version of O. omegaifera itself and consequently the two species may
regularly come into contact, thereby creating endless opportunity for misidentification. The
differences in appearance are small though O. basilissa is a larger plant with larger flowers. On
Chios (where these photograph's were taken), it would appear that O. basilissa is a later flowerer
than O. omegaifera, though this conflicts with at least one respected orchid authority which
has the two concurrent or perhaps even a reverse of the Chios situation.
It was noted with the plants from Chios that there was a narrow yellow/brown margin on the lobe which was not apparent on O. omegaifera - whether this is diagnostic or merely a local variation
is not known. This is a difficult orchid to get right and in truth the main reason I am confident that these pictures are the species they claim to be is because I was lucky enough to be shown them by a local expert who did not share my confusion !
This ophrys will thrive in full sun but seems equally happy in open pine woods, as was the case with the plants illustrated here. This is also why they are literally engulfed by the infamous Aegean pine pollen.
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