June 2001
Did you know that
the Bee Orchid plant gets its name from the shape of its flower which resemble the body of a queen
bee?
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Bee Orchid-Orphys
apifera
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Beautiful example of
the orchid family, of delicate form and surprising colours. Measuring
between 15 and 40 cm, it develops a straight stalk, at the end of
which appear a few lanceolate leaves which partially surround the
thallus. These flowers grow one above the other and are notable for
their velvety texture and the yellow and brown colour of the labellum
surrounded by three pink bracts.
Its annual cycle
is distinctive because the aerial part dries off after summer, leaving
only the buried tuber, which germinates again when good weather
arrives.
This plant gets its
name from the shape of its flower. The flowers, which appear
between the months of May and June, resemble the body of a queen bee.
The drone therefore returns repeatedly to the flowers and distributes
the pollen from one plant to another. Although resembling a bee it
does not use bees as its main method of pollination. The usual way is
by self-pollination, unsurprisingly this has led to many weird forms,
some of which are noticeable for their lack of colour. Although these
orchids are sometimes difficult to find they are not rare and bee
orchids can be found throughout Europe, in North Africa and the Near
East.
These orchids are
mysterious in their appearance. They will pop-up on disturbed chalk
soils in huge numbers between March and July, linger for a few years
and then vanish. This has led to them being greeted as celebrities
when first spotted at a new site.
Sources:
http://www.wildsight.bigstep.com/generic.jhtml?pid=26
http://www.ddgi.es/espais/iabeller.htm
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