Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera (Fr. Ophrys abeille) has a wide European distribution and frequently self-fertilises. This is thought to be the reason it produces so many varieties and aberrant forms. The species flowers in June, producing spikes of 3 - 10 flowers about 25mm across, from a rosette of leaves. The sepals are normally bright pink and the labellum formed from one larger rounded brown 'tongue' with two smaller velvety lobes which stick out at either side. They grow in grasslands of all sorts, from lawn to rough scrubby hillsides. For the full species account click here.
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| Normal Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera var apifera. Petals shorter than a quarter the length of the sepals. (The sepals are the three bright pink bits at the back, the petals are the two little reddish green bits at the junction of the sepals near the centre.) |
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| Ophrys apifera var flavescens. The labellum (tongue) is yellow. This is a mutation known as hypochromatism (lacking colour), where the orchid has lost all red pigmentation and is pale. |
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| Ophrys apifera var curviflora. The labellum is concave and the appendix at the tip (like a little yellow tongue) is visible. Normally this curves the other way, up behind the labellum, and the labellum itself is convex. |
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| Ophrys apifera var fulvofusca. A dark red labellum, lacking the usual pattern. |
More aberrations and variations will be added as I encounter them.
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