Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Orchidaceae ⟩ Ophrys apifera / bee orchid

Ophrys apifera Huds.

bee orchid (Orchidaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadModerate tendencySE
Online Atlas of British and Irish Flora
BSBI Distribution Map

Ophrys apifera grows in base-rich soils across England, Ireland, peripheral parts of Wales and the Isle of Man; it is very rare in Scotland.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2019-06-15

 bee orchid / Ophrys apifera: _Ophrys apifera_ grows in base-rich soils across England, Ireland, peripheral parts of Wales and the Isle of Man; it is very rare in Scotland.

The flowers of Ophrys apifera are adapted to mimic Andrena bees, but the plants in the British Isles are mostly self-pollinating.

Hartslock (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-06-06

 bee orchid / Ophrys apifera: The flowers of _Ophrys apifera_ are adapted to mimic _Andrena_ bees, but the plants in the British Isles are mostly self-pollinating.

The projection at the end of the labellum of Ophrys apifera is curved round behind the flower and is not visible from in front, but can be seen here; in Ophrys fuciflora, it points straight downwards and can be seen face-on.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2019-06-03

 bee orchid / Ophrys apifera: The projection at the end of the labellum of _Ophrys apifera_ is curved round behind the flower and is not visible from in front, but can be seen here; in _Ophrys fuciflora_, it points straight downwards and can be seen face-on.

Ophrys apifera var. trollii is a variety sometimes known as the ‘wasp orchid’.

Sheepscombe (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2016-06-12

 bee orchid / Ophrys apifera: _Ophrys apifera_ var. _trollii_ is a variety sometimes known as the ‘wasp orchid’.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne