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'Bee' Orchid

Ophrys apifera

Photo by craigwilliams
Published on Project Noah
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51.3677, 0.211263

Field Notes

Description:

Small summer dormant tuberous terrestrial orchid. By far the most common of the four Ophrys found in the UK. Ophrys are pollinated by luring newly emerged inexperienced bees, wasps and sometimes beetles to attempt to mate with them (pseudocopulation) by appearing and smelling like a lovely lady! Despite this Ophrys apifera is usually self pollinating, its pollen parcels (pollinia) swinging down onto the stigmatic surface.

Habitat:

Usually found on calcareous ground such as Chalk Downland, also present in some sand dune communities.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
craigwilliams
This was the orchid which got me hooked on them. It totally blew the concept I had at the time of what a flower could be out of water! Once I started reading about the genus Ophrys, I was a lost cause! I remember reading about these popping up on a verge somewhere in Ghent a few years beck. I'm sure there are much more reliable places to see them in Belgium though.
The MnMs
These are so beautiful! They are supposed to be here in Belgium too but last summer I did not find any..I hope this year :-)
VivBraznell
Chillin' Retired here a few years back. Love nature and photography so nice to be able to combine the two and uploading onto here is fantastic as I get so many idents so quickly. Learning all the time. : )
craigwilliams
Thanks for your kind words Viv - a real boost as the kind of work I'm looking for is proving hard to come by at the moment. Keep your eyes peeled for orchids in Thailand, there are lots of them,I'm sure you'll find some sooner or later! What are you doing out there now?
VivBraznell
I've got a couple of British orchids that I'll put on today from when I was home in Devon earlier in the year. I was reading through some of your comments etc yesterday. WOW! is all I can say. Good luck with wherever you go with your work and study. I love plants and worked in a garden centre for many years eventually becoming Planteria manager, no horticultural training, wish I had though. My family home is not far from Burnham Nurseries who specialise in Orchids and have been very sucessful at Chelsea in the past. Have seen very few orchids in the wild here unfotrunately, fingers crossed one day : )
craigwilliams
They're great aren't they Viv! I'll put some more UK orchids up when I get a moment & some Thai ones too! Do you see many out there?
VivBraznell
That's a beautiful Orchid.............. and in U.K

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Flowers of Europe
Photographed
PublishedOctober 18, 2011

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