O. sanctae-marcellae was first described from Chios as O. tenthredenifera subsp. sanctae-marcellae
by Saliaris and Alibertis in 2011 and subsequently promoted to full
species status by Kreutz. It is named in honour of Saint Markella, a
14th century protector of the island of Chios.
It is an Eastern Aegean representative of the O. tenthredenifera group which has currently been identified only from the islands of Chios and Samos but may probably be found in the islands to the south including Rhodes. Until the beginning of the century this taxon was considered to be within the natural varietal range of O. leochroma and some authorities still subscribe to this view.
On Samos, O. sanctae-marcella is one of four O. tenthredenifera group species that occur on the island and in at least one west coast site, it shares a large area of coastal phrygana with all three of its cousins IE:- O. leochroma, O korae and O. villosa. Despite slightly differing flowering times, in late March/early April, they may all be found in bloom concurrently, although O. leochroma, being the latest will be at the very beginning of its cycle whilst all the others will be declining. O. sanctae-marcellae may be distinguished firstly by its flower, which is of medium size, falling between the larger O. leochroma and the smaller similarly proportioned O. villosa and O. korae. Picture 5 depicts the flowers of O. sanctae-marcellae (left) and O. villosa (right).The second distinguishing feature is the speculum which instead of the normal "bow tie" appearance is usually elongated and vaguely "H" shaped. The species shows a marked preference for coastal habitat whether this be semi-arid phrygana or open dry pine forest. It requires alkaline substrates in full sun and will not tolerate a position that is in anyway water retentive.
The pictures all come from a single site in Samos and date from the first week of April at which time the species was generally declining.
It is an Eastern Aegean representative of the O. tenthredenifera group which has currently been identified only from the islands of Chios and Samos but may probably be found in the islands to the south including Rhodes. Until the beginning of the century this taxon was considered to be within the natural varietal range of O. leochroma and some authorities still subscribe to this view.
On Samos, O. sanctae-marcella is one of four O. tenthredenifera group species that occur on the island and in at least one west coast site, it shares a large area of coastal phrygana with all three of its cousins IE:- O. leochroma, O korae and O. villosa. Despite slightly differing flowering times, in late March/early April, they may all be found in bloom concurrently, although O. leochroma, being the latest will be at the very beginning of its cycle whilst all the others will be declining. O. sanctae-marcellae may be distinguished firstly by its flower, which is of medium size, falling between the larger O. leochroma and the smaller similarly proportioned O. villosa and O. korae. Picture 5 depicts the flowers of O. sanctae-marcellae (left) and O. villosa (right).The second distinguishing feature is the speculum which instead of the normal "bow tie" appearance is usually elongated and vaguely "H" shaped. The species shows a marked preference for coastal habitat whether this be semi-arid phrygana or open dry pine forest. It requires alkaline substrates in full sun and will not tolerate a position that is in anyway water retentive.
The pictures all come from a single site in Samos and date from the first week of April at which time the species was generally declining.
