There are around 4 species of the genus Ophrys in the U.K., these are O. apifera - Bee orchid, O. fuciflora - Late spider orchid, O. insectifera - Fly orchid and O. sphegodes - Early spider orchid.
Perhaps the most well known of all the British native orchids is the Bee orchid, it has a showy flower despite it's slender shape. The name Ophrys comes from Ophrus which is from the Greek for Eyebrow and apifera means bee (api-) bearer (-fera)
Height: upto 50cm (20" approx.)
Flowers: Usually between May to July
Habitat: Likes alkaline, wet or dry soil on open grassland to light woodland in sun or shade. They can be almost solitary to an abundant group.
While crawling along in a traffic queue as a passenger, I was staring out the window when I spotted the plants below and suddenly shouted, "Bee orchids!". (Shieking is not an unusual occurance when mother is in the driving seat). As we were travelling slower than snails on a dry day and I had a digital camera with me, I was able to leap out of the car and take these images, pretty poor fare even by my low standards but it was the best I could do in the time.
Height: upto 50cm (20" approx.)
Flowers: Usually between May to July
Habitat: Likes alkaline, wet or dry soil on open grassland to light woodland in sun or shade. They can be almost solitary to an abundant group.
Ophrys apifera growing wild on a roadside in Hampshire, 12th June 2006.
While crawling along in a traffic queue as a passenger, I was staring out the window when I spotted the plants below and suddenly shouted, "Bee orchids!". (Shieking is not an unusual occurance when mother is in the driving seat). As we were travelling slower than snails on a dry day and I had a digital camera with me, I was able to leap out of the car and take these images, pretty poor fare even by my low standards but it was the best I could do in the time.