Sombre Bee-orchid
ExplorePlants
Sombre Bee-orchid
Ophrys fusca
The Sombre Bee-orchid is a special flower that looks like a bee! It has beautiful dark colors and grows in sunny places. This flower is very clever because it tricks bees into helping it grow.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Sombre Bee-orchid has dark, velvety petals and sepals, often greenish-brown, framing a large, lobed labellum (lip). This labellum is usually reddish-brown with a distinctive bluish-grey, shiny patch, mimicking a female bee to deceive male bees.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusOphrys
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
It offers absolutely no nectar, only clever deception to its visiting bees!
It plays a clever trick called 'pseudocopulation'—fake mating—on male bees!
Its Greek name, Ophrys, means 'eyebrow,' possibly for its velvety flower lip!
This orchid can produce hundreds of thousands of tiny, dust-like seeds!
Special abilities
Ability
Bee Mimicry
Sombre Bee-orchid can perfectly imitate a female bee, tricking male bees into attempting to mate and pick up pollen.
Ability
Scent Seduction
Sombre Bee-orchid has a special scent that mimics female bee pheromones, further luring unsuspecting male bees.
Ability
Pollinator Play
Sombre Bee-orchid has a hinged labellum that helps position a 'mating' bee perfectly for pollen transfer.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Mining Bee
Andrena nigroaenea
Primary pollinator, tricked by the flower's disguise.
pollinates
Mining Bee
Andrena gravida
Another key pollinator, also deceived by the orchid's mimicry.
pollinates
Mining Bee
Andrena morio
Attracted by the orchid's mimicry and pheromone-like scent.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look at flowers from a distance and don't pick them to keep them safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Sombre Bee-orchid?
10-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Sombre Bee-orchid?
1-2.5 cm
When does Sombre Bee-orchid bloom?
Spring
Is Sombre Bee-orchid edible?
No
Is Sombre Bee-orchid toxic?
None
What is Sombre Bee-orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Sombre Bee-orchid pollinated?
Insect
Where is Sombre Bee-orchid usually found?
Grasslands
Snap Map
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