Bee Orchid

Ophrys apifera

The Bee Orchid is a special flower that looks like a bee! It has pretty purple and yellow petals and loves to grow in sunny places. This flower is not only beautiful but also helps bees find food.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Bee Orchid has a stem topped with several striking flowers, each mimicking a female bumblebee with fuzzy, brown, velvety lips, yellow markings, and two small, greenish-pink petals resembling antennae. Its sepals are typically bright pink or purple, making it highly distinctive.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseLiliopsidaOrdenAsparagalesFamiliaOrchidaceaeGéneroOphrys

Bee Orchid

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

It can grow in some surprising places, like old quarries!

Its scientific name 'apifera' literally means 'bee-bearing'.

Male bees get frustrated when they can't find a real mate!

The Bee Orchid is a super rare sight in Ireland.

Habilidades especiales

Bee Orchid can perfectly imitate a female bee's look and scent to trick male bees into attempting to mate with it.

Bee Orchid has sticky pollen masses that attach to the bee during pseudocopulation, ready to be transferred.

Bee Orchid can self-pollinate if no suitable insect pollinators are found, ensuring it can still reproduce.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 10-50 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 1-2 cm
Temporada de floración: Late Spring to Mid-Summer
Comestible: No
Toxicidad: Ninguna
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Long-horned Bee

Eucera longicornis

Male bees are tricked into attempting to mate with the flower.

symbiotic with

Fungus

Tulasnella calospora

Its seeds rely on this fungus to germinate and grow.

shelters

Upright Brome

Bromus erectus

Often found growing amongst this grass in chalky meadows.

Rasgos

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Floración de verano

Las plantas de floración de verano producen sus flores durante la temporada estival, a menudo aportando un color vibrante cuando muchas otras plantas ya han terminado de florecer.

Floración primaveral

Las plantas de floración primaveral producen sus flores durante la temporada de primavera, lo que a menudo significa el final del invierno y el comienzo de un nuevo crecimiento.