O. forestieri was first described
from Bouches-du-Rhone, France by Reichenbach in 1851 and was named in
honour of the French botanist De Forestier. This species, along with
the other early flowering Pseudophrys
of Southern France and Spain have been the subject of much research,
resulting in valuable papers, particularly by Devillers and
Devillers-Terschuren in 2006 and Lowe in 2010.
These studies resulted in the repositioning of some species and also the description of new species such as O. delforgei and O. malacitana. In the case of O. forestieri it emerged that the small flowered variant was a separate taxon and subsequently named O. delforgei whilst the larger flowered variant retained the name of O. forestieri. It was further concluded that plants in Southern France and northern Spain formerly regarded as O. lupercalis, were in fact synonymous with O. forestieri. At present O. lupercalis still seems to be regarded as a valid species elsewhere in its range but this position is unclear and requires study.
O. forestieri is now included in the O. obaesa group and thought to be closely related to both O. sulcata and O. vasconica. It is a fairly robust, tall stemmed plant with stalked flowers appearing at short intervals up the stem. The flowers are large and usually present a more colourful appearance than other Pseudorchis with which it can sometimes grow. This impression is created by the normally wide yellow margin and reddish tones that often permeate the speculum. O. forestieri is an early flowerer and as was the case with the plants illustrated here, can be in full flower by the middle of March. The pictures come from the Marseille region of Southern France and also from populations on the northern coast of Spain which cannot as yet be confirmed as being part of this species newly defined distribution.
These studies resulted in the repositioning of some species and also the description of new species such as O. delforgei and O. malacitana. In the case of O. forestieri it emerged that the small flowered variant was a separate taxon and subsequently named O. delforgei whilst the larger flowered variant retained the name of O. forestieri. It was further concluded that plants in Southern France and northern Spain formerly regarded as O. lupercalis, were in fact synonymous with O. forestieri. At present O. lupercalis still seems to be regarded as a valid species elsewhere in its range but this position is unclear and requires study.
O. forestieri is now included in the O. obaesa group and thought to be closely related to both O. sulcata and O. vasconica. It is a fairly robust, tall stemmed plant with stalked flowers appearing at short intervals up the stem. The flowers are large and usually present a more colourful appearance than other Pseudorchis with which it can sometimes grow. This impression is created by the normally wide yellow margin and reddish tones that often permeate the speculum. O. forestieri is an early flowerer and as was the case with the plants illustrated here, can be in full flower by the middle of March. The pictures come from the Marseille region of Southern France and also from populations on the northern coast of Spain which cannot as yet be confirmed as being part of this species newly defined distribution.
