Ophrys scolopax, Cav., 1793

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 348

15. O. scolopax Cav. ,

Icon. Descr. 2: 46 (1793).

Plant 15-45 cm. Basal leaves lanceolate, acute. Spike 3- to 12-flowered. Perianth-segments pink or purplish-violet, rarely whitish or greenish; outer 8- 10(- 12) mm, oblong-ovate, glabrous, the median not incurved; inner as long as the outer, lanceolate or triangular, hairy. Labellum suborbicular, ovate, or obovate, distinctly 3-lobed, rarely subentire, widest at or below the middle, strongly deflexed, brownish- or blackish-purple, velutinous, glabrous towards the margin, with an often 3-dentate appendage; lateral lobes ovate to triangular, deflexed, gibbous, dark brown­ ish-hairy; speculum scutelliform, annular or H-shaped, large, violet or blue with yellow or whitish margin, the spots often somewhat dark brownish-velutinous with glabrous margin. Connective acute.

S. Europe. A 1 B 1 Bu Co Cr Ga Gr Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (K) Sa?Si Tu.

1 Labellum 13-15 mm (d) subsp. heldreichii

1 Labellum 8-12 mm

2 Middle lobe of labellum wider than long, with wide marginal zone (b) subsp. oestrifera

2 Middle lobe of labellum as long as or longer than wide

3 Middle lobe of labellum with papillose, very narrow, glabrous marginal zone; basal protuberances small, wide, obtuse (a) subsp. scolopax

3 Middle lobe of labellum with wide, glabrous marginal zone; basal protuberances up to 10 mm, conical, acute (c) subsp. comuta