Seasonal Wild Flowers

Bee Orchid

Latin name

Ophrys apifera

Family

Orchidaceae

Flowering season

Late May to July

English distribution

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

North

and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Bee Orchid

Habitat

It grows in calcareous grassland and scrub, by roads and

railways, on dunes, limestone pavement and bare, rocky

places.

Description

Bee Orchid is a striking, native, tuberous, perennial herb,

growing up to 45cm (usually shorter).

The flowers have 3 petal-like sepals which are rosy pink

in front and pale pink with green lines on the back

There are 2 pink or green, oblong petals, which are

slightly hairy and smaller than the sepals

The labellum has 2 furry lateral lobes, a large dark

convex central lobe which is slightly cleft and has a

backwardly-projecting tucked-in appendage.

The central lobe is purplish brown with a yellow

H-shaped mark and yellow spots which, with the furry

lateral lobes, mimic a bumble bee and lures male bees

as an aid to pollination.

The stigma is above the labellum and is orangy-brown

and flat with lateral 'eyes'.

The pollinia are initially hidden within the hood-like column.

On ripening they swing down and deposit pollen on the

stigma or an excited male bumble bee.

Bracts are leaf like and lanceolate.

Leaves are lanceolate and pale green.

Flowers are both self-pollinated and pollinated by insects.

^ Top

Previous page: Bearded Iris
Next page: Bell Heather

Bee orchids in disused quarry

Flower spike, flowers and leaves

Flower arrangement on stem

Pink sepals, small green petals, stigma eyes

pollinia hidden under 'hood'

Close up of labellum. Slightly divided central

lobe, furry lateral lobes, yellow spots, light H,

orange stigma with pollinia above

Pollinia leaving pollen on stigma

Flower from above - pollinia hidden

Side view of labellum with lime green

appendage pointing backwards

Side view of flower - pollinia in hood, furry

lateral lobes and tip of labellum appendage

Flower with pink oblong petals

Leaf-like bract, reverse side of sepals with

green lines