Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) photographed in June
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera photographed in June The Bee Orchid is a perennial temperate climate species of orchid generally found growing on semi dry turf on limestone calcareous dunes or in open areas in woodland The Bee Orchid develops small rosettes of leaves in autumn They slowly continue to grow during winter Flowers appear the following year Each year it produces from one to ten flowers on a spike blooming from June to July The flowers are almost exclusively self pollinating in the northern ranges of the plants distribution pollination by the solitary bee Eucera occurs sometimes in the Mediterranean area The petals are marginal and spread out colored mauve to pink The flower is furry to the touch and is quite variable in the pattern of coloration but usually brownish red with yellow markings The alternate leaves are elliptical and pointed Bees in the past have promoted the evolution of bee orchids Male bees over many generations of cumulative orchid evolution have built up the bee like shape through trying to copulate with flowers and hence carrying pollen
Size: 3600px × 5400px
Location: north lincolnshire, england, united kingdom
Photo credit: © LEE BEEL / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: apifera, bee, beel, countryside, eucera, flora, flower, july, june, nature, ophrys, orchid, pernennial, petal, pollen, pollinate, pollination, sepal, summer, wild, wildflower
