OPHRYS APIFERA : The Bee Orchid

A classic bee orchid image showing four flower phases: complete (self pollinated), about to self pollinate (pollina collapsing onto the stigma), freshly opened and emergent. The flowers, like those of other members of the genus, mimic a specific species of insect (a bee) both visually and pheromonally. The male bee attempts to copulate and gets the pollina attatched to its upper surface. The plant gets pollinated without the expense and complications of nectar production. The bee species benefits in that a proportion of the males tend to be located at specific places and are hence statistically more likely to be encountered by a female. Subtle strategies. Shame the bees dont live here. Hence self pollination with all its lineage complications. Particularly as the plants life cycle is 5 or 6 years and it only flowers once. The usual rhizomic helper fungi occur. The plants often occur with pyamid orchids and require poor alkaline soils and deciduous companion species.

Speculative issues: evergreen grasses (et al) would out compete the micro-corms. Irregular or intensive grazing will exterminate a given population. A statistically better chance of male-female encounters due due chemical mimicry. When will a suitable scanner become available.

Below: Essex UK, before blooming : And a short and rugged bloom in a disused quarry near Cheltenham : And a grassy bloom in the Ilse of Wight. The over-wintering plants (below) are in the same quarry. Approx 70 seen, winter 2002/2003. .