O. biscutella was first described by Danesch and Danesch from the Italian province of Foggia in 1970.
Its name refers to the speculum which usually (though by no means always) displays two separated and
vaguely triangular shield like markings.
Its a member of the 13 strong O. argolica group and endemic to Italy, where its found along the Adriatic
coast and hinterland, primarily Puglia and particularly the Gargano peninsula. Although somewhat local, its
by no means uncommon and can in fact be found in large numbers in its favoured sites.
Identification is reasonably straightforward and it doesnt seem to have any significant overlap of range
with any of its fellow Italian group members or indeed be easily confused with other Ophrys within its
reach. It is however an enthusiastic gene sharer and hybrids are common. Nowhere is this more apparent
than in Gargano where it has plenty of Ophrys species for company and where the range of intermediates
and crosses are occasionally quite bewildering.
The road from Monte Sant'Angelo south westwards towards the Monastry is bordered by many small
fields and one of these is the home to many of the area's species where hybridization has progressed to the
point where locating the original pure parents can be all but impossible. O. biscutella, O. bertoloniiformis,
O. neglecta, O. bertolonii, O. apulica, O. incubacea, O. garganica and O. promontorii have all contributed to
a swarm of epic proportions.
The photograph's here are all from Gargano and bordering area's of Puglia. They date from the first week
of May.
The following photo's depict hybrids with :- O. fuciflora ( 1 and 2 ) , O. bertolonii ( 3 ) and O. bertoloniiformis ( 4, 5 and 6 ).
