GeoGraph - photograph every grid square

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Close up of an individual flower from the plant in ST6626 : Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera).

Although Bee Orchids flowers can exhibit significant variation, even on an individual plant, this is a fairly typical example, showing the three pink sepals, the two diagonal petals and the large patterned lip, the bottom and sides of which are folded back to give a rounded appearance, with two "hairy" side lobes. Above the lip is the greenish column, from which two yellow pollinia drop (not visible in this photo). Although evolved to mimic bees, seed production most commonly arises from self-pollination, with the pollinia being blown onto the stigma, situated at the base of the column.