O. morio
was first described by Paulus and Kreutz from Larnaca
(Cyprus) in 2004 and it takes its name from its pollinator
Andrena morio.
This species is only known with certainty from Cyprus but is thought likely to be also present in southern Anatolia. O. morio is one of four similar O. mammosa group members that occur in Cyprus, the others being O. alasiatica, O. posteria and O. mammosa itself. When these species appear in their typical forms they can be separated, unfortunately however there exists a high degree of both natural variation and hybridization which complicates identification. This interbreeding has created hybrid colonies containing intermediate plants showing genetic influence from any and potentially all of the above species.
O. morio in its typical form has several characteristics that help differentiate it :- 1. The beak at the end of the column is longer than in all the other species. 2. The margins of the dorsal sepal are often rolled inwards giving it a narrow appearance. 3. The perianth segments (sepals, petals ) are elongated. 4. The labellum is often strongly recurved at the margins, a feature which exaggerates the already tapered lip. 5. The base of the stigmatic cavity is constricted and the basal field can vary from light brown to orange red but always a shade paler than the lip. This last feature can reasonably accurately help distinguish O. morio from O. mammosa and the late flowering O. postaeria but is however a characteristic shared with O. alasiatica.
The illustrations are all from Cyprus and date from the first week of March at which time the plants were just commencing their flowering cycle..
This species is only known with certainty from Cyprus but is thought likely to be also present in southern Anatolia. O. morio is one of four similar O. mammosa group members that occur in Cyprus, the others being O. alasiatica, O. posteria and O. mammosa itself. When these species appear in their typical forms they can be separated, unfortunately however there exists a high degree of both natural variation and hybridization which complicates identification. This interbreeding has created hybrid colonies containing intermediate plants showing genetic influence from any and potentially all of the above species.
O. morio in its typical form has several characteristics that help differentiate it :- 1. The beak at the end of the column is longer than in all the other species. 2. The margins of the dorsal sepal are often rolled inwards giving it a narrow appearance. 3. The perianth segments (sepals, petals ) are elongated. 4. The labellum is often strongly recurved at the margins, a feature which exaggerates the already tapered lip. 5. The base of the stigmatic cavity is constricted and the basal field can vary from light brown to orange red but always a shade paler than the lip. This last feature can reasonably accurately help distinguish O. morio from O. mammosa and the late flowering O. postaeria but is however a characteristic shared with O. alasiatica.
The illustrations are all from Cyprus and date from the first week of March at which time the plants were just commencing their flowering cycle..
