The O. mammosa group in Greece can be difficult to separate and a number of recent studies have not always served to satisfactoriy clarify the situation. O. herae was always a species that could resemble O. grammica and often phenology was the only satisfactory way to separate them. In the Ionian islands the situation was no less challenging and has become further complicated by Hirth's 1990s research concluding that the O. mammosa group of Corfu was not composed simply of O. grammica, O. herae and O. mammosa but comprised several more, as yet undescribed species. The study went on to formally recognize the early flowering O. janrenzii and assert that typical O. herae did not exist outside Samos.

O. grammica is naturally variable but in its type form displays a stigmatic cavity, basal field and central labellum that is a rather washed out light brown/orange colour, usually lighter than the remainder of the lip. The dullness increases with age and can produce a dusty look to the flower (See 7). These characteristics cannot however be taken as diagnostic and some plants exhibit more vivid colouration. The speculum is invariably simple and often consists of two narrow parallel lines which can reach the distal area of the lip. O. grammica can be a tall, spindly plant and seems to favour mildly acidic soils on banks and verges that have been subject to erosion. The photos are from northern Greece and Cephalonia, dating from  mid April.