This is the title species of the O. umbilicata group, all of which come from the Aegean basin and eastern Mediterranean. It was popularly known until the late 20th century as the Mount Carmel Ophrys, at which time the title would have encompassed other group members that have now been split off as new individual species. Its range once included Cyprus but the taxon in question has since been split off and formally described as O. orientalis.

Unsurprisingly its name refers to the umbilicus which is the central, navel like ocellus formed within the speculum. This feature, although not consistently present is nonetheless characteristic of the species, albeit variable in form from virtually absent, often incomplete and sometimes with the ocellus duplicated and rarely triplicated.

Unlike most of the rest of its group, O. umbilicata is a quite common Ophrys and may be abundant in    some of its stations, particularly in the Aegean islands where its range can overlap with other similar species such as O. bucephala, O. rhodia and O. attica. Although some examples of possible hybridisation have been recorded, it seems to be rare and even where two species grow in close proximity, the individual features of each remain largely pure and identifiable. Perhaps the most immediate and obvious characteristic of O. umbilicata is the usually white, sometimes pinkish sepals, whereas in the previously mentioned species these are green.

The photos are from Lesbos, Samos and Chios, dating from the first week of April.