O. incubacea
is a widespread orchid, first described from Sicily in 1842, its
name meaning "of smaller size". Quite why it was thus named is something of a mystery as it is not a particularly small Ophrys, growing
up to 60 cms tall and bearing up to 10 medium sized flowers.
It is a Mediterranean plant and although reaching the eastern Adriatic, does not extend beyond Albania. O. incubacea is a common orchid and is probably at the height of its abundance in the southern half of Italy, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Its not a hugely variable Ophrys but within the range of the type species one named variety in particular stands out. This is O. incubacea var. dianensis which was first identified and described by Perazza and Doro from the region of Campania, southern Italy in 2003.
As mentioned previously this taxon may occur throughout the range of the type species but to date the bulk of reports come from southern Italy and northern Spain. The plants depicted here are from central Croatia and the Abruzzo region of central peninsula Italy. In both locations the pictures date from the second week of May.
It is a Mediterranean plant and although reaching the eastern Adriatic, does not extend beyond Albania. O. incubacea is a common orchid and is probably at the height of its abundance in the southern half of Italy, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Its not a hugely variable Ophrys but within the range of the type species one named variety in particular stands out. This is O. incubacea var. dianensis which was first identified and described by Perazza and Doro from the region of Campania, southern Italy in 2003.
The
sepals are always pink, often suffused with green and with petals that
range from pink to orange/brown, of variable legnth and with more or
less undulating margins. The stigmatic cavity has a conspicuous white,
pink flushed exterior with a black interior and contrasting white
blotch at the rear. The lip is very similar to that of the type species
but generally dark red rather than brown. Perhaps the most
characteristic features of O. incubacea
and all its varieties is the hairiness of the lip and the well developed, forward pointing basal swellings.
As mentioned previously this taxon may occur throughout the range of the type species but to date the bulk of reports come from southern Italy and northern Spain. The plants depicted here are from central Croatia and the Abruzzo region of central peninsula Italy. In both locations the pictures date from the second week of May.
