O. mesaratica was first described from Crete in 1990 and takes its name from the plain of Mesara in the south of the island. It is a member of the O. iricolor group whose range was originally thought to be centred on southern and western Crete but which has now been extended to include several Ionian and Aegean islands as well as small outposts in the Peloponnese.
The species common name is the Cretan Blue Orchid but this is perhaps somewhat complimentary to an orchid that although possessing a pleasing architectural form, is in fact a rather small and dull flower. The speculum is bluish often with purple overtones and sometimes marbled with black or dark brown and quite unlike the sometimes extravagant colouration and markings of O. iricolor.
Although the range of the two species overlap, they are unlikely to be confused due to the very early flowering (from December to March) of O. mesaritica. This species was once regarded as an early flowering O. iricolor and there are those that still hold to this view. Both species are large, robust plants but the smaller flower size in O. mesaratica is diagnostic. Another key distinguishing feature is the colouration of the underside of the lip which in O.iricolor is always pale purple but invariably green/brown in O. mesaritica. The single photo is from Lesbos and depicts a plant that was still in bloom in late March and which was not entirely typical.
