It was not realized untill recently that despite its abundance, this ophrys was in fact a new taxon
and not a late flowering O. sitiaca or form of O. leucadica as previously assumed.
Delforge first described it in 2007 from the Aegean island of Chios where it was found on Mount
Pelineo and hence its scientific name. Since this time it has been found to be widespread and
common on other neighbouring islands such as Samos and Lesbos. The illustrations are from Lesbos and go some way in demonstrating the significant range in appearance of this species. It is thought to be of hybrid origin, with O. sitiaca as one of its forebear's and its perhaps unsurprising therefore that O. pelinaea shares this species predisposition to variability.
Lesbos in particular has been the centre of much study with the fusca sl complex and a visit to this
island can be a bewildering experience to the amateur hoping to identify orchids in this group.
Perhaps the most easily recognized feature of pelinaea is the broad white omega shaped line at the
tip of the speculum, reminiscent of O. sitiaca but with a pronounced V shaped groove at the basal area of the lip.
Pelinaea has been placed in the O. attaviria group and as with other members, it has relatively large flowers of up to 20cms. Although tolerant of light shade it appears happiest on dry soils
in full sun. All photograph's were taken in the first week of April 2008.
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