Ophrys cretica (Vierhapper) Nelson 1962 Photo BY M. Verhart and the Orchids of France and Europe

Found on the island of Crete, Greece and the eastern Aegean Islands in short grasslands, abandoned cultivation, garrigue and scrub at elevations up to 1200 meters as a miniature to medium sized, cold growing terrestriaL that blooms in the spring on a terminal, densely, 2 to 10 flowered inflorescence.

Synonyms Ophrys ariadnae Paulus 1994; Ophrys cretica subsp. ariadnae (Paulus) H.Kretzschmar 2002; Ophrys cretica subsp. beloniae G.Kretzschmar & H.Kretzschmar 1996; Ophrys cretica subsp. bicornuta H.Kretzschmar & Ralf Jahn 2001 publ. 2002; Ophrys doerfleri H. Fleischm. 1925; Ophrys kotschyi subsp. ariadnae (Paulus) Faurh 2002; Ophrys kotschyi subsp. cretica (Vierh.) H.Sund. 1975; Ophrys spruneri f. cretica Vierh. 1916; Ophrys spruneri subsp. cretica (Vierh.) Renz 1943; Ophrys spruneri var. cretica (Vierh.) Soó 1929

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen 3 Auflage Bd 1 Sonderabdruck aus Schlechter Lieferung 4 193 to 256 Brieger, Maatsch and Senghas 1971;AOS Bulletin Vol 54 No 4 1985 photo fide; Ophyrs The Bee Orchids of Europe Pederson & Faurholdt 2007; Orchid Digest Vol 81 #1 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #9 2019 photo good

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------