O. herae was first described from the Greek island of Samos by Hirth and Spaeth in 1992 and is named after Hera, the Goddess of women and marriage.
This is an uncommon member of the large O. mammosa group and has been the subject of considerable study in order to determine both its true status and its precise distribution. Until recently it was thought to occur widely in mainland Greece, the Aegean basin, Turkey, Crete and Cyprus but its range was not known with certainty due to the species similarity to several other Hellenic Ophrys and not least the often abundant O. mammosa.
The most significant features in terms of recognition are the small size of the flowers and the spindly nature of the overall plant. The lip is normally a dark red which contrasts with the lighter coloured, often orange stigmatic cavity and basal field. Basal swellings are prominent and hairless on the inner face.
As has already been mentioned this species has been closely studied by Paulus and Hirth who conclude that typical O. herae can only be found on the Aegean island of Samos (see O. herae Samos )and that other populations are closely related evolutionary offshoots albeit sharing the same pollinator. It is not now thought that O. herae exists on Cyprus. The accompanying pictures are from mainland Greece and Crete and date from the first week of April. In view of recent changes in our understanding of the species however, they are now offered as depicting " the orchid formerly known as O. herae " !
