Taxonomic Status of the Neglected <i>Ophrys sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> in the Balkan Peninsula

Since its description, the taxon Ophrys sphegodes subsp. grammica has been considered endemic to Greece. The morphological and chorological data of this taxon have been overlooked because the name has been used as a synonym for O. sphegodes subsp. taurica in most publications and online databases. Recently discovered Ophrys populations in Serbia were identified as O. sphegodes subsp. grammica. As these populations represent the northernmost point of distribution of this taxon, we provided data on the morphology, flowering season, and ecology. To determine the taxonomic status of this taxon, we performed comparative morphological analyses, comparing them to other populations of affined taxa (O. sphegodes subsp. grammica, O. sphegodes subsp. taurica, and O. sphegodes subsp. sphegodes). The analysis included 23 morphometric characters, performed on a total of 120 individuals. Examined populations of O. sphegodes subsp. grammica are closely associated with populations of O. sphegodes subsp. sphegodes, with near overlap in the values of the characteristics evaluated, indicating that this subspecies is more morphologically similar to the typical one than to O. sphegodes subsp. taurica. Although O. sphegodes subsp. grammica and O. sphegodes subsp. sphegodes are morphologically similar, the flowers of the first taxon are smaller, as evidenced by the length and width of the stigmatic cavity, as well as the length of the petals and labellum. The labellum of O. sphegodes subsp. grammica is shorter than the dorsal sepal, and this feature distinguishes it from both the typical subspecies and O. sphegodes subsp. taurica, where it is longer. The results of this study clearly show that the name O. sphegodes subsp. grammica should not be equated with O. sphegodes subsp. taurica, since it is a morphologically distinct and well-defined taxon.