O. polyxo was first described from Laerma, Rhodes by Mast de Maeght, Garnier, Devillers and Devillers-Terschuren in 2005. It is a member of the eastern Mediterranean based O. heldreichii group of Ophrys and is named after Polyxo, erstwhile Queen of ancient Rhodes.
A 2005 study concluded that plants formerly recognized as the species O. ceto and O. bremifera of the O. oestrifera group were in fact a separate species within the O. heldreichii group. O. polyxo is thought to be of hybridogenous origin with O. cornutula as a parent and this would certainly account for the difficulties that can be encountered separating the two Rhodian endemics. Neither species is uncommon on the island and intermediates are regularly recorded, a fact which should be borne in mind when viewing the illustrations.
O. polyxo is a sturdy, fairly tall plant, usually with six or less flowers widely spaced, alternately up the stem in a vaguely one sided pattern. The flowers are held some distance away from the stem by a long ovary, very reminiscent of O. orphanidea. The lip is somewhat larger and more rotund than O. cornutula with a usually more elaborate, sometimes gaudy speculum. Significantly, petals are long, being up to half the length of the sepals. Flowering commences in late March, at least two weeks later than O. corutula.
The photos are from Rhodes, dating from the commencement of flowering in early April.
The following photos depict untypical examples of O. polyxo.
