Until 1994, O. calypsus was considered a variety of O. heldreichii but more recently has been given full species status, maintaining three named varieties, maxima, scolopaxoides and pseudoapulica. This position has now been rearranged again with maxima (which was always something of a "catch all" taxon) being redistributed into other classifications, principally O. colossaea.
O. calypsus var. pseudoapulica was (at the time of writing) still a recognized variety having first received a formal description in 1995 by Delforge. It is found primarily in the Cyclades and Rhodes, a range which brings it into contact with both the type species and variety scolopaxoides. Hybridization with these (and indeed other species) have created many intermediate populations and accurately differentiating them can be difficult in many areas.
The most important single feature that distinguishes pseudoapulica is the way in which the lip margins initially recurve tightly behind the main body of the lip and then reflex out and forward so that they are visible (sometimes only narrowly) from a face on view. In scolopaxoides there is significant recurvature but no reflexation and the lip margins simply form a tight pleat at the back of the body. O. calypsus itself is similar to scolopaxoides but the lip has a lower waistline and looks much less scolopaxoid.
The photos all come from Rhodes dating from the first week of April.
