This species was first described by Nyman from Aegina island, Greece in 1855 and takes its name
from a once famous 19th century German botanist - Herr W. von Spruner. We are unaware of the precise circumstances that led to him being so commemorated.
O. spruneri is endemic to Greece with a distribution that extends from Macedonia down to Crete in
the south and from the Ionian islands to Chios in the Aegean. It's not at all common on Chios and
seems absent altogether from the other major Aegean islands of Rhodes, Samos and Lesbos.
It's population is centred on the Peleponnese where along with many other species, its numbers have undoubtedly suffered from the widespread fires of recent years. O. spruneri is a somewhat variable
species which can exhibit close similarities to both O. ferrum-equinum and O. mammosa both of which occur commonly over much of its range. As can be seen from the illustrations the flower may
be distinctly 3 lobed or with the lip almost entire and basal swellings. The key identification feature
is the blue speculum lining which unlike its close relatives, forms a comlete H around the stigmatic cavity. Occasionally the crossbar may be missing and more unusually may be duplicated.
It is a sturdy plant that can reach 40cms with up to 6 loosely arranged flowers and can grow in many
habitats from full sun to mid shade.
All photograph's are from the Peloponnese with the exception of 4 which was recorded on Mt Hymettus and exhibits features that suspiciously resemble O. mammosa.
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