O. classica was first described by Devillers-Terschuren and Devillers from Monte Argentaria in 2000.
Its a member of the 12 strong O. exaltata group whose name literally means "of the fleet" and refers to
the species preference for coastal habitats.
This Ophrys is an Italian endemic with a range from the Grosetto region of southern Tuscany in the north to the Latium region south of Rome. O. classica is at its most frequent in the Monte Argentaria area and
its in this area in particular that its range overlaps with several other closely related species that can
cause a great deal of confusion with identification.
There are in fact three other species which may be found in flower concurrently with O. classica between March and early May, namely O. argentaria, O. tarquinia and the ubiquitous O. sphegodes. All these
species have individual distinguishing features but years of gene ingression has made identification in the
a painstaking business where the "balance of probabilities" is often resorted to.
The following characteristics are typical of O. classica but as can be seen from the photograph's - they
are by no means infallible. 1 :- Speculum pattern is usually a simple reddish H. 2 :- Basal swellings are normally well formed and hairless on the inner surface. 3 :- This species shows a preference for moist environments and is seldom found far away from the central Tyrrhenian coastline. 4 :- The outer wall
of the stigmatic cavity is noticebaly whiter and shinier than the other 3 species.
All photoraph's are from southern Tuscany, between Grosseto and Tarquinia.
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