Syn: Ophrys funerea, Ophrys lupercalis, Ophrys sulcata ,

Ophrys from the south and southwest of France, this Ophrys poses in theory few identification problems. It is part of the Pseudophrys like the Ophrys lutea. The labellum is relatively elongated, furrowed more or less deeply in its central part, devoid of humps . What is not visible is its pollination by specific insects (usually hymenoptera) which position themselves with their abdomen facing the reproductive organs, which is the opposite of other Ophrys. Despite this particularity, hybrids are possible with Ophrys. .

Species determination can be complex because authors do not agree, sometimes grouping certain taxa together and sometimes multiplying species. You will therefore sometimes find a single species: Ophrys fusca (Brown Ophrys) with the synonym Ophrys sulcata (Furrowed Ophrys). ), and Ophrys lupercalis (Ophrys lupercalis) or the 3 very distinct species as well as many others. Pierre Delforge even indicates that O. fusca is not present in France... in defiance of the official classification. It's not better with Remy Souche...the two often contradict each other. Each author or local botanist is convinced that he holds the truth of course as to the name or as to its identification criteria, its flowering period ... but in view of the divergent opinions, it is preferable to refer to the official classification as long as that research has not been able to determine with certainty whether these are different species or simply local variations. When the search for precision leads to a complexity marked by manifest errors, it is better to return to a saving simplification.

I have therefore attempted here to present views respecting the most striking distinctive elements of determination.