Yellow Bee-orchid
ExplorePlants
Yellow Bee-orchid
Ophrys lutea
The Yellow Bee-orchid is a beautiful flower that looks like a bee! It blooms in spring and is often found in sunny places. This flower is special because it attracts real bees with its shape and color.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Yellow Bee-orchid has bright yellow sepals and petals, often with greenish bases. Its distinctive brownish-red labellum features a striking blue or violet H-shaped marking and yellow margins, masterfully resembling a female bee.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusOphrys
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It offers no nectar; its trick is purely visual and scent-based.
Its tiny seeds need special underground fungi to help them grow and sprout.
Male bees try to mate with its flowers, thinking they are real female bees!
This orchid gets its name because its flowers look just like fuzzy bees!
Special abilities
Ability
Mimicry Master
Yellow Bee-orchid can perfectly imitate a female bee, tricking males into spreading its pollen.
Ability
Scent Specialist
It releases a special scent that smells just like a female bee, attracting pollinators.
Ability
Underground Storehouse
Yellow Bee-orchid has underground tubers that store food and water, helping it survive tough times.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Spread
- 5-10 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Dark Gaster Bee
Andrena nigroaenea
Tricked into spreading pollen.
symbiotic with
Mycorrhizal Fungus
Tulasnella calospora
Provides nutrients for growth.
eaten by
Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
Feeds on its leaves and flowers.
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.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
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.
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, so they can keep growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Yellow Bee-orchid?
10-30 cm
How wide does Yellow Bee-orchid spread?
5-10 cm
How big are the flowers on Yellow Bee-orchid?
1-2 cm
When does Yellow Bee-orchid bloom?
Spring
Is Yellow Bee-orchid edible?
No
Is Yellow Bee-orchid toxic?
None
What is Yellow Bee-orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Yellow Bee-orchid pollinated?
Insect
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