Ophrys lutea, (Gouan) Cav., 1793

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 345

3. O. lutea (Gouan) Cav. ,

Icon. Descr. 2: 46 (1793).

Plant 7-30 cm. Basal leaves ovate, acute. Spike 2- to 7-flowered, lax. Perianth-segments subglabrous or papillose at margin; outer c. 10 mm, oblong-ovate, obtuse, green, the lateral sub-patent, the median incurved; inner perianth-segments as long as the outer, linear-oblong, green or yellowish. Labellum 9-18 mm, suborbicular or oblong, with flat margin, dark brown or blackish- purple, with yellow or greenish marginal zone, papillose, 3-lobed, not globose-inflated; lateral lobes ovate, obtuse; middle lobe reniform, often incised; speculum entire or 2-lobed, grey or bluish-grey. Connective obtuse.

Mediterranean region, C. & S. Portugal. B 1 Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Tu.

1 Labellum 12-18 mm, the lobes subequal or the middle lobe larger, with marginal zone 2-3 mm wide (a) subsp. lutea

1 Labellum 9-12 mm, the lobes subequal or the middle lobe smaller, with marginal zone 1 -2 mm wide

2 Marginal zone of labellum with blackish-purple hairs, the rest of the labellum (except the speculum) blackish-purple (c) subsp. melena

2 Marginal zone of labellum glabrous, the rest of the labellum (except the speculum) dark brown (b) subsp. murbeckii