This is one of eleven species that comprise the O. subfusca group and which is thought to form the
link between the O. lutea and O. fusca formations. Although this group seems to be largely centred on Sicily and North Africa, O. cinereophila is to be found in a wider range that takes it from continental Greece, eastwards through the Aegean and into Asia .
Within this distribution it encounters fellow group member O. lindia with which it can easily be confused. Species of the O. lutea group and particularly those with more complex speculum's can also present challenges. On mainland Greece and the Aegean islands the highly variable (though rare) O. perpusilla is also a source of problems with identification.
It is a smallish plant rarely exceeding 20cms in height, though the inflorecence may be quite dense with up to 10 small flowers. As may be seen from the illustrations it can be of variable in
appearance and photo's 1 and 7 are perhaps the most typical. As with O. phryganae, one of the key ID features is the knee joint bend below stigmatic cavity. Its habitat is the fairly standard Mediterranean requirement of dry to moist calcareous soil in full sun, although it may just tiptoe into the light shade of a woodland edge.
O. cinereophila's name is derived from its Hymenoptera pollinator.IE:- Andrena cinereophila.
Photographs 3,to 6 are from the Plomari region of soth west Lesbos, 1 from Chios, 2 from Attica and 7 is from Cyprus.
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