This is a relatively common member of the large O. oestrifera group which until 2004 was known as O.
bremifera. The name "Ceto" comes from the Greek Keto, meaning sea monster and from which was named the sea Goddess Ceto who was most famous for bearing a family of little sea monsters called the Phorcydes. We would be interested to know what it was about this Ophrys that brought this particular God to mind ?
This is a relatively easy species to identify and the following 3 points are key :- Firstly it is a large Ophrys, the plant is slender but sturdy and the flowers large with a long lip. Secondly, it is one of the few members of the group that does not have very long lateral lobes and the final easily recognized feature, is that the stigmatic cavity is wide, being at least 50% of the lip width. Although not diagnostic, the pseudo-eyes (and ridge between them) are very pronounced and this can be noted from the photo's - , particularly No 4.
Its range is from the Aegean basin and through central Greece to the Ionian islands. There are however
some question marks with regards to its status in the Aegean islands where particularly on Chios,
plants previously thought to be this species are being newly reclassified as O. masticorum and
O. orphanidae.
All the illustrations here are from Mt Hymettus where it is quite common but where it comes into
contact with several other similar species and can form some very confusing hybrid's . ( Maybe this
is why the species was named after a Goddess who spawned monsters ? )
.