Until 1994, Ophrys calypsus was considered to be simply a variety of O. heldreichii but since that time
has been given full species status and maintains three named varieties - maxima, scolopaxoides and pseudoapulica. This position has recently changed again with maxima ( which was always something of a "catch all" variety ) being redistributed into other classifications - principally O. colossaea.
O. calypsus is a relatively common Ophrys and it will be no surprise to learn that it was named after
the Greek sea nymph Calypso, daughter ot Titan and important character in Homer's Odyssey.
This is one of the two recognized varieties of O. calypsus and seems to occupy a range within the centre
of that of the type species. Its base is therefore the Cyclades and eastern Aegean islands from Chios down to Rhodes and possibly into Anatolia.
O. calypsus v scolopaxoides differs from type in being a less robust plant with smaller flowers and at first sight could easily be mistaken for a member of the O. oestrifera group. Its most significant characteristic is the way in which the lip margins strongly recurve and form a pleat at the rear of the flower. O. calypsus itself can sometimes give this appearance but as already mentioned it is a more robust flower and when viewed from the front will still present a more rectangular appearance that does not taper to the appendage as accutely. It should be mentioned however that all three varieties of the species may be found in association and intermediate populations are common.
The photographs here come from Rhodes and Chios and date from the first week of April.
