D. flavescens (C, Koch emend. Nevski) H. Baumann & Künkele in Mitt. Bl. Arbeitskr. Heim. Orch. Baden-Württ. 13:237 (1981). Ic: Reichb. fil., Ic. Fl. Germ. 13/14: t. 62 f. I (1851), as O.flavencens ;Nieschalk in Philippia 3:103, f. 2 (1976); Renz in Rech. fil., Fl. Iranica 126: t. 49 (1978). Map 105. Fl. (4-)5-6. Coniferous forest and forest margins, Quercus scrub, alpine meadows, 20-2000 m.
Described from Caucasia.
N. & E. Anatolia. A5 Samsun: nr Bafra, c. 20 m, Guichard T/59/59! A6 Ordu: nr Meşudiye, 1500 m, Mathew & Tomlinson 4385! A7 Gümüşane: S. side of Zigana pass, 1900 m, Taub. 78.290! Trabzon: Zigana Da., 1800-1900 m, Guichard TUR/99/62! A8 Çoruh: Tiryal Da., 1850 m, Düzenli 712! A9 Kars: N.W. of Kars, Karabagh, Fischer! B6 Sivas: Kaynarca, between Gürün and Piaarbaşi, 1650 m, Renz & E. Sezik 12982! B8 Siirt: Sasun Da., above Seyhan and Sason, 1250-1850 m, Watson et al. 1255! B9 Bitlis: Kizvak Da., 9 km N.E. of Tatvan, 1950 m, Watson et al. 1325! B10 Kars: Doğubayazit to Iğdir, 2000 m, Rix 2004!
Caucasia, N. Iran, Turkestan. Euxine element. In the area where the two subspecies meet in N. Anatolia — mainly between 36° and 38° E — transitional forms occur which may be difficult to distinguish, since the development of the spur may not be as characteristic as described in the key. Examples include: A5 Sinop: Ince Burun, 30 m, Tobey 1642! A6 Samsun: c. 3.5 km E. of Sam-sun, 60 m, Tobey 53! B5 Yozgat: Akdağmadeni, Aktaş, Curtis 139! In the Colonic region of Anatolia (and in Transcaucasia, where the red form of subsp. georgica was referred to Orchis tenuifolia C. Koch), red and yellow flowered plants of subsp. georgica frequently grow together.
Baumann & Künkele (Mitt. Bl. Arbeitskr. Heim.Orch. Baden-Württ. 13:237, 1981) give reasons for maintaining the specific rank of this taxon. The smaller labellum and shorter, mainly horizontally oriented spur are the most distinctive characters. Considering their close relationship and the above-mentioned intermediates, we prefer to treat the N.E. Anatolian and Caucasian plants at subspecific rank.
Averyanov (op. cit. 537, map 4,1983) described the new taxon D. ruprech-tii Aver., originating from Caucasus (Type: inter Wladikawkaset Tiflis, Kaisch-aur, 910 hexap. [c. 1700 m], in pratis turfosis, 11 v 1861, Ruprecht (holo.LE)). In the accompanying distribution map this plant is also recorded from A8 Çoruh: near Artvin, According to the description of the Caucasian plant, it may well be an ecological response to alpine conditions, which is not unusual for a plant growing in a wide range of altitudes.