Ophrys apifera - wikipedia Ophrys apifera For other plants also called `` bee orchid '', see bee orchid. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( June 2013 ) Ophrys apifera Ophrys apifera Scientific classification Kingdom : Plantae ( unranked ) : Angiosperms ( unranked ) : Monocots Order : Asparagales Family : Orchidaceae Genus : Ophrys Species : O. apifera Binomial name Ophrys apifera Huds. Synonyms Orchis apifera ( Huds. ) Salisb. Arachnites apifera ( Huds. ) Hoffm. Ophrys chlorantha Hegetschw. & Heer Ophrys insectifera var. andrachnites Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae. Contents 1 Description 1.1 Morphology 1.2 Phytochemistry 2 Taxonomy 3 Reproduction 4 Distribution 5 Habitat 6 Culture 7 Varieties 8 References 9 External links Description Morphology Ophrys apifera grows to a height of 15 -- 50 centimetres ( 6 -- 20 in ). This hardy orchid develops small rosettes of leaves in autumn. They continue to grow slowly during winter. Basal leaves are ovate or oblong - lanceolate, upper leaves and bracts are ovate - lanceolate and sheathing. The plant blooms from mid-April to July producing a spike composed from one to twelve flowers. The flowers have large sepals, with a central green rib and their colour varies from white to pink, while petals are short, pubescent, yellow to greenish. The labellum is trilobed, with two pronounced humps on the hairy lateral lobes, the median lobe is hairy and similar to the abdomen of a bee. It is quite variable in the pattern of coloration, but usually brownish - red with yellow markings. The gynostegium is at right angles, with an elongated apex. Phytochemistry Floral parts display the presence of quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, which are supposed to be acylated, as well as cinnamic acid derivatives. The pink outer tepals show the presence of anthocyanins. Taxonomy The name `` Ophrys '' derives from the Greek word ophrys, meaning `` eyebrow '', while the Latin specific epithet apifera means `` bee - bearing '' or `` bee - bringing '' and refers to the bee - shaped lip of the orchid. Reproduction Ophrys apifera is the only species of the genus Ophrys which preferentially practices self - pollination. The flowers are almost exclusively self - pollinating in the northern ranges of the plant 's distribution, but pollination by the solitary bee Eucera occurs in the Mediterranean area. In this case the plant attracts these insects by producing a scent that mimics the scent of the female bee. In addition, the lip acts as a decoy as the male bee confuses it with a female. Pollen transfer occurs during the ensuing pseudocopulation. The flowers emit allomones that attract the bee species Tetralonia cressa and Eucera pulveraceae. Eucera longicornis males have been observed attempting to copulate with the flowers. It is also believed that male bees would preferentially select orchids with the most bee - like lips and attempt to mate with them, transferring pollen in the process. Distribution Ophrys apifera is a widespread across central and southern Europe, as well as North Africa and the Middle East. Its range stretches from Portugal, Ireland and Denmark east to Iran and the Caucasus. It is quite common in the Mediterranean region eastwards to the Black Sea, ( Codes ) but is less common in its northern range being uncommon or local in Germany and Ireland. In the UK, it has a distinct southeastern preference, being more common in England. Recently it has been found in the southwest of England in Butleigh near Glastonbury in Somerset ; whereas it is only to be found in coastal regions of Wales as well as the Hodbarrow Nature Reserve in Millom, Cumbria, and some parts of Northern Ireland. It is relatively common in the northeast of England and in recent years large numbers have appeared in the grass verges surrounding the Metro Centre in Gateshead. In Scotland, it was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in Ayrshire in 2003. In some countries the plants have protected status. They are unusual in that in some years they appear in great numbers, then sometimes only reappear after an absence of many years. Habitat Ophrys apifera generally grows on semi-dry turf, in grassland, on limestone, calcareous dunes or in open areas in woodland. It prefers calcareous soils, in bright light or dim light. It is a major colonizer of old quarries and roadside verges. Culture Ophrys apifera is the County flower of Bedfordshire. Varieties Ophrys apifera var. apifera Ophrys apifera var. bicolor Ophrys apifera var. botteronii Ophrys apifera var. friburgensis Ophrys apifera var. immaculata Ophrys apifera var. trollii Varieties of Ophrys apifera Ophrys apifera var. aurita Ophrys apifera var. bicolor Ophrys apifera var. botteronii Ophrys apifera var. trollii References Jump up ^ Fabio Conti, Fabrizio Bartolucci ( 2015 ). The Vascular Flora of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise ( Central Italy ) : An Annotated Checklist Geobotany Studies ( illustrated ed. ). Springer. p. 124. ISBN 9783319097015. CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter ( link ) ^ Jump up to : I.F. La Croix ( 2008 ). The New Encyclopedia of Orchids : 1500 Species in Cultivation ( illustrated ed. ). Timber Press. p. 320. ISBN 9780881928761. Jump up ^ Function of floral pigments in the orchid genus Ophrys. Kheim, Doris ( 2009 ), Diplomarbeit, University of Vienna ( abstract ) Jump up ^ Occurrence of flavonoids in Ophrys ( Orchidaceae ) flower parts. Anastasia Karioti, Christine K. Kitsaki, Stella Zygouraki, Marouska Ziobora, Samah Djeddi, Helen Skaltsa and Georgios Liakopoulos, Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, Volume 203, Issue 7, 1 October 2008, Pages 602 -- 609, doi : 10.1016 / j. flora. 2007.09. 009 Jump up ^ WORDS Latin - to - English Dictionary by William Whittaker, AbleMedia Classics Technology Center, accessed 2014 - 11 - 13 Jump up ^ Charles Darwin ( 2004 ). Frederick Burkhardt, Duncan M. Porter, Sheila Ann Dean, Shelley Innes, Samantha Evans, Alison M. Pearn, Andrew Sclater, Paul White, ed. The Correspondence of Charles Darwin :, Volume 14 ; Volume 1866 ( illustrated ed. ). Cambridge University Press. p. 129. ISBN 9780521844598. CS1 maint : Multiple names : editors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Charles Darwin ( 1898 ). The Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects ( second ed. ). D. Appleton and Company. p. 52. Jump up ^ Fenster, Charles B. ; Marten - Rodriguez, Silvana ( 2007 ). `` Reproductive Assurance And The Evolution Of Pollination Specialization '' ( PDF ). International Journal of Plant Sciences. 168 ( 2 ) : 215 -- 228. Jump up ^ Fenster, Charles B. ; Marten - Rodrıguez, Silvana ( 2007 ). `` Reproductive Assurance and the Evolution of Pollination Specialization '' ( PDF ). International Journal of Plant Sciences. The University of Chicago. 168 ( 2 ) : 215 -- 228. doi : 10.1086 / 509647. Retrieved 2 September 2013. Jump up ^ Dawkins, R. ( 1986 ) The Blind Watchmaker Jump up ^ `` World Checklist of Selected Plant Families ''. Jump up ^ `` World Checklist of Selected Plant Families TDWG Geocodes '' ( PDF ). Jump up ^ `` The RSPB : Hodbarrow ''. The RSPB. Jump up ^ Tony Henderson ( 21 June 2008 ). `` Orchid colony discovered in grass verge ''. journallive. Jump up ^ Hein van Bohemen, ed. ( 2005 ). Ecological Engineering : Bridging Between Ecology and Civil Engineering. Uitgeverij Æneas BV. p. 224. ISBN 9789075365719. Jump up ^ Plantlife website County Flowers page External links Media related to Ophrys apifera at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Ophrys apifera at Wikispecies Biolib Ophrys apifera http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/ophrys-apifera-bee-orchid Orchid of the Year in Germany Western marsh orchid ( 1989 ) Pyramidal orchid ( 1990 ) Green - winged orchid ( 1991 ) Common twayblade ( 1992 ) Military orchid ( 1993 ) Fen orchid ( 1994 ) Bee orchid ( 1995 ) Lady 's - slipper orchid ( 1996 ) Bug orchid ( 1997 ) Marsh helleborine ( 1998 ) Lizard orchid ( 1999 ) Red helleborine ( 2000 ) Autumn lady 's - tresses ( 2001 ) Bird 's - nest orchid ( 2002 ) Fly orchid ( 2003 ) Frog orchid ( 2004 ) Burnt orchid ( 2005 ) Broad - leaved helleborine ( 2006 ) Nigritella nigra subsp. rhellicani ( 2007 ) Southern marsh orchid ( 2008 ) Early purple orchid ( 2009 ) Lady 's - slipper orchid ( 2010 ) Lesser butterfly orchid ( 2011 ) Orchis pallens ( 2012 ) Lady orchid ( 2013 ) Ghost orchid ( 2014 ) Early marsh orchid ( 2015 ) Summer lady 's - tresses ( 2016 ) White helleborine ( 2017 ) Taxon identifiers Wd : Q159291 APDB : 161157 ARKive : ophrys - apifera EoL : 1136554 GBIF : 2792998 iNaturalist : 83816 IPNI : 647746 - 1 NCBI : 78817 PalDat : Ophrys_apifera Plant List : kew - 140745 Plazi : 808739B6 - B06E - 5D1F - 3C7E - 3807818A916B Species+ : 25262 Tropicos : 23500891 WCSP : 140745 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ophrys_apifera&oldid=809758481 '' Categories : Ophrys Orchideae species Orchids of Europe Flora of North Africa Flora of the Caucasus Flora of Western Asia Plants described in 1762 Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter CS1 maint : Multiple names : editors list Articles needing additional references from June 2013 All articles needing additional references Articles with ' species ' microformats Articles containing Greek - language text Articles containing Latin - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies Asturianu Български Català Cebuano Čeština Corsu Cymraeg Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego Hornjoserbsce Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands پنجابی Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 11 November 2017, at 05 : 54. 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Question: a flower that looks like a female bee
Answer: Ophrys apifera