O. druentica was first described from the lower River Durance region of southern France by Delforge and Viglione in 2006, its eventual recognition being the result of a major study of the three main fuciflorid groups of the area (O. scolopax, O. tetraloniae and O. fuciflora).
This new species has been placed in the O. tetraloniae group and as can be seen from the photographs, it exhibits one of the key distinguishing features of this family, the virtually complete sub-marginal band of short, light coloured hair that is not noticeably denser on the shoulders as is common with other fuciflorid species. The addition of this new Ophrys to a group already well represented in the region doesn't make life easier in terms of distinguishing the individual taxons. In his study, Delforge referred to the presence of significant numbers of hybrid strains where these species were in close contact.
O. druentica is variable and lip shape, although always undivided, can be trapezoidal, rarely scolopaxoid or most commonly rectangular, as seen in these photos. The lip is large, up to 16cms long and the stigmatic cavity wide, with a speculum that is often elaborate. The species was first found in the Durance valley but its full range, whilst not known with any certainty, is thought to be considerably wider. It is at its most common in Bouches-du-Rhone but is probably present in southern France as far north as the Vercors. It has also been recorded from Liguria in northwest Italy.
The pictures here come from the Sisteron area, dating from the third week of May at which time they were just coming into flower.
