O. quadripunctata gained its name by virtue of the four dark dots at the centre of the lip but whilst the species is noted for and commonly demonstrates this feature, it cant be taken as a given and as can be seen from the illustrations here, the dots may be either reduced or increased in number and size, merged or simply difficult to observe.
This species belongs to the 23 strong O. mascula group and was first described from Naples in the early nineteenth
century. It is a very familiar orchid to travellers in the central and eastern Mediterranean and shows a distinct
preference for hilly or mountainous habitats, particularly in lightly wooded situations. It's range is quite broad but
there can be large distribution gaps. Despite being common in Gargano it is relatively rare throughout the rest of
Italy and replaced altogether in Sicily and Sardinia by O. brancifortii which is itself a rarity.
Its heartland is in Greece and the Aegean where it can form large if somewhat loose colonies that will readily hybridize with neighbouring Orchis and particularly O. pauciflora with which it often associates. The populations in
Crete, Cyprus and Anatolia have recently been the subject of close study and it has been noted that several of the
populations are undoubtedly of hybrid origin having been genetically influenced by one of O. anatolica, O. sitiaca or
O. troodi. These plants have been reclassified as either O. sezikiana or O. x sezikiana depending on which authority you speak to. The prevailing view seems to be that they have not yet stabilised into a distinct species and are generally still to be found in reasonable contact with their parents.
Illutrations are from Mt Hymettus, Greece dated 10th April and Cilento National Park, Italy dated 20th April .
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