TY  - EJOU
AU  - Peškanov, Jovan 
AU  - Bogdanović, Sandro 
AU  - Vlku, Aleksa 
AU  - Anačkov, Goran 
AU  - Radak, Boris 

TI  - Taxonomic Status of the Neglected <i>Ophrys sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> in the Balkan Peninsula
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2025
VL  - 94
IS  - 6
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - Since its description, the taxon <i>Ophrys sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> 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 <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>taurica</i> in most publications and online databases. Recently discovered <i>Ophrys</i> populations in Serbia were identified as <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammi</i>ca. 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 (<i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i>, <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>taurica</i>, and <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>sphegodes</i>). The analysis included 23 morphometric characters, performed on a total of 120 individuals. Examined populations of <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> are closely associated with populations of <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>sphegodes</i>, with near overlap in the values of the characteristics evaluated, indicating that this subspecies is more morphologically similar to the typical one than to <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>tauri</i>ca. Although <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>sphegodes</i> 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 <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> is shorter than the dorsal sepal, and this feature distinguishes it from both the typical subspecies and <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>taurica</i>, where it is longer. The results of this study clearly show that the name <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>grammica</i> should not be equated with <i>O</i>. <i>sphegodes</i> subsp. <i>taurica</i>, since it is a morphologically distinct and well-defined taxon.
KW  - Balkan Peninsula; morphometrics; <i>Ophrys sphegodes</i> complex

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2025.065536