O. druentica was first described from the lower River Durance region of southern France by Delforge and Viglione in 2006, its eventual recognition being the result of a major study of the three main fuciflorid groups of the area (O. scolopax, O. tetraloniae and O. fuciflora). Its name refers to the ancient name of the Durance valley "Druenticus".
The addition of this Ophrys to a group already well represented in the region, doesn't make life any easier in terms of distinguishing the individual taxons. Identification is further complicated by hybridization and in his study, Delforge referred to the presence of significant numbers of hybrid strains where the species overlap. It must be mentioned however that for all practical purposes, O. druentica is morphologically indistinguishable from O. personata and many leading authorities believe them to be synonymous,
O. druentica is variable and lip shape, although always undivided, can be trapezoidal, rarely scolopaxoid or most commonly rectangular. The lip is large, up to 16cms long and the stigmatic cavity wide, with a speculum that is often elaborate. The basal field is often more or less divided into two separate hemispheres. The species was first found in the Durance valley but its full range, whilst not known with any certainty, is thought to be considerably wider. It is at its most common in Bouches-du-Rhone but is probably present in southern France as far north as the Vercors. It has also been recorded from Liguria in northwest Italy.
The pictures here come from the Sisteron area of soutnern France, dating from the third week of May.
