O. dodekanensis was first described by Kretzschmar and Kreutz from Rhodes in 2001 and its name refers
to the Dodecanese archipelago of which Rhodes is the biggest island.
This species was originally thought to be endemic to Rhodes but has subsequently been discovered to occur
( albeit rarely ) on other of the Aegean islands and notably Chios, Samos and Lesbos. It is also thought to
be present in small numbers in a few locations along the neighbouring Aegean coast of Anatolia. The full
distribution of this species has yet to be established.
O. dodekanensis is a member of the large and difficult O. oestrifera group and in its stronghold on Rhodes,
although local it can be abundant. Its close relative O. minutula although common on other Aegean Islands
(particularly Lesbos) is thought not to occur on Rhodes (a point of some debate !) and identification is
therefore reasonably straightforward. O. cornutula however is widespread on all the bigger Aegean islands and being a similarly small flowered Ophrys can therefore be the source of some confusion with correct identification.
O. dodekanensis does not posses the long lateral lobes of O. cornutula and the speculum is far less complex
and extensive. As has already been mentioned, O. dodekanensis is only at all common on Rhodes but there are area's where distribution's overlap and contact with O. minutula can occur - key amongst these is
Lesbos where the two species can be found together (albeit very rarely). O. dodekanensis can be
distinguished by its larger leaf rosette and by the much sturdier appearance of the plant.
The pictures here come from Rhodes and Chios and date from the first week of April..
