This is one of the seventeen member O. bornmuelleri group that range across the eastern and central
Mediterranean . O. biancae itself is endemic to the island of Sicily from where it was first described
in 1842 and named after the Italian botanist Signor G. Bianca.
Even in a genetically pure form it is a highly variable orchid and its tendency to readily hybridize
with other of Sicily's fuciflorids ( with which it often grows in close association) serves only to make
identification all the more difficult.
The initial "diagnosis" can be made relatively easily by virtue of its significantly smaller size than the
species with which it commonly mixes IE:- O. oxyrrhynchos, O. calliantha, O. lacaitae. It is also an earlier
flowerer than oxyrrhynchos and considerably before the two latter species. As with others of the
bornmuelleri group, O. biancae has a significant marginal ring of hairs around the lip and this does set it
apart from the more clean shaven appearance of the others. These marginal hairs are however seldom
complete as would be found on O. bornmuelleri itself.
O. biancae is thought to be an ancient species with origins that go back to the eastern Mediterranean and
probably to O. tenthredinifera. This would certainly explain the plants ability to sometimes imitate
O. grandiflora and also the readiness with which it will hybridize with that species.
The pictures come from various locations in south east Sicily, notably to the east of Ferla where its a
relatively common species.
The following photograph's depict some examples of O. biancae hybrids, which as mentioned in the text are commonly to be found where it grows in association with other fuciflorid species. Photo's 1and 2 are O. biancae x grandiflora, numbers 3 and 4 are O. biancae x lacaitae and 5 and 6 are O. biancae x oxyrrhnchos.
