O. lupercalis was first described from Aude (France) in 1994 and it takes its name from the Ancient
Roman festival of Lupercalia which was historically always celebrated on the 15th of February every
year.
This name clearly alludes to the early flowering of the species and for many of us this feature of the
orchid is one of the key diagnostic factors. In Sicily O. lupercalis can appear very much like the endemic
O. sabulosa but although the two species can be found in similar habitats, the former orchid would be in
poor condition by the time the latter starts to appear. It is however quite possible to find O. lupercalis
growing concurrently with O. sabulosa where it is at a higher altitude. There is some opinion amongst local
botanists that O. lupercalis, O. sabulosa and O. gackiae are in fact seasonal morphs.
Throughout the rest of its range , which takes in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, the species is less
difficult to identify but again in Sicily another similar endemic ophyrs - O. gackiae grows at similar time and in a similar range. O. gackiae is a smaller plant with few flowers (rarely more than 5) whereas O.
lupercalis is tallish with up to 10 flowers. The latter plant has a smaller average width to length ratio and
can therefore appear to be a longer, narrower plant but as mentioned elsewhere, I have viewed the pictures
of several respected botanists and this feature seems unreliable in isolation.
O. lupercalis has sizeable longtitudinal prominence's but unlike O. sabulosa, these do not produce either a
kink in the lip or the deep, wide central groove. The lip does in fact appear to be quite straight when
seen in profile, although the very tip of the lip will usually curve under.
