Horseshoe orchid flowers (Ophrys ferrum-equinum). The orchid is named for the distinctive horseshoe- shaped marking (blue) on its lip. This part of th

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Horseshoe orchid flowers (Ophrys ferrum-equinum). The orchid is named for the distinctive horseshoe- shaped marking (blue) on its lip. This part of the flower is a specialised petal that helps attract pollinators. The Ophrys orchids are also named bee orchids, as the lips often resemble bees. This orchid is found in Greece and Turkey. It is a terrestrial orchid (one that grows in the ground). There are more than 30,000 species of orchids worldwide, many of which are grown as ornamental flowers. Photographed in Greece.

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Size: 3399px × 5182px
Photo credit: © PAUL HARCOURT DAVIES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bee, biological, biology, botanical, botany, couple, duo, european, ferrum-equinum, flower, flowering, flowers, greece, greek, horseshoe, mimesis, mimic, nature, ophrys, orchid, pair, plant, reproduction, reproductive, temperate, terrestrial