O. posteria
was first described as a sub species by B and H. Baumann from Larnaca
(Cyprus) in 2005 and its name refers to its late flowering period.
This species is only known with certainty from Cyprus where it grows sparingly in a variety of habitats but frequently where there exists a degree of light shade. O. posteria is the most recently described of four similar O. mammosa group members that occur on the island, the others being O. alasiatica, O. morio and O. mammosa itself. When these species appear in their typical forms they can be comfortably separated but unfortunately all the species demonstrate a high degree of natural variation and their close proximity to each other makes hybridization almost inevitable This interbreeding has created hybrid colonies containing intermediate plants showing genetic influence from any and potentially all of the above species.
The first and probably most critical feature in differentiating O. posteria, is its late flowering period, which commences in the last two weeks of March at a time when the other species are either finished or in decline. It is however possible to find O. posteria in flower concurrently and particularly with O. mammosa, a taxon with extremely similar morphological characteristics and perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, the same polinator. It is the opinion of several eminent orchidologists that O. mammosa and O. posteria are synonymous.
O. morio and O. alasiatica are earlier flowers and distinguishable amongst other things, by the lighter colour of the basal field. O. mammosa however is really only separable by flowering times and even this differentiator is unreliable when growing altitudes are taken into consideration.
This species is only known with certainty from Cyprus where it grows sparingly in a variety of habitats but frequently where there exists a degree of light shade. O. posteria is the most recently described of four similar O. mammosa group members that occur on the island, the others being O. alasiatica, O. morio and O. mammosa itself. When these species appear in their typical forms they can be comfortably separated but unfortunately all the species demonstrate a high degree of natural variation and their close proximity to each other makes hybridization almost inevitable This interbreeding has created hybrid colonies containing intermediate plants showing genetic influence from any and potentially all of the above species.
The first and probably most critical feature in differentiating O. posteria, is its late flowering period, which commences in the last two weeks of March at a time when the other species are either finished or in decline. It is however possible to find O. posteria in flower concurrently and particularly with O. mammosa, a taxon with extremely similar morphological characteristics and perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, the same polinator. It is the opinion of several eminent orchidologists that O. mammosa and O. posteria are synonymous.
O. morio and O. alasiatica are earlier flowers and distinguishable amongst other things, by the lighter colour of the basal field. O. mammosa however is really only separable by flowering times and even this differentiator is unreliable when growing altitudes are taken into consideration.
