O. cornutula was first described by Paulus from Rhodes in 2001 and its name refers to its diminutive size. It's a member of the large O. oestrifera group which has been the recipient of much study and attention over the last two decades but none of which has satisfactorily clarified significant taxonomic questions, particularly as they relate to the group in the eastern Mediterranean. The distribution, status and very existence of the groups representatives around the Aegean is still subject to the differing opinions of contributors to the debate.
Its small stature is a significant identification feature but by no means diagnostic as it's a characteristic shared with O. nestoris, O. stavri and O. miniscula amongst others. O. cornutula is a relatively spindly, lax-flowered plant but may nonetheless carry an inflorescence of up to 15 individual flowers, a characteristic that can be regarded as a further key distinguishing feature. O. cerastes is much fewer flowered and a decidedly more robust looking plant with larger flowers. The speculum is variable and ranges from extensive and complex to limited and simple. The sepals are generally small and protuberences modest unlike both O. cerastes and O. crassicornis which are horn like and often exceptionally long.
O. cornutula is a localized but not uncommon species, which although once thought to be widespread around the Aegean is now thought to be possibly endemic to Rhodes where it may be found growing with the similar but larger flowered fellow endemic, O. polyxo . The photographs are from Rhodes, dating from the beginning of April.
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