Orchids of the UK - Bee Orchid

Orchids of the UK

Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera

Above: A Bee Orchid flowering on the chalk downlands of Wiltshire. ©Rob Read.

I love all orchids, but another of my favourites is the Bee Orchid, its name taken from its flowers, the petals of which deliberately mimic female bees.  

The Bee Orchid is widespread and locally common (less so in the north) favouring grassland areas, particularly on limestone and chalk soils. It is a relatively small orchid which can grow to 45cm in height, although in the UK it ranges from 10cm upwards. The leaves form a basal rosette, with two growing up the stem to form a protective sheath. The stem supports a varying number of flowers (two or three most commonly) which are relatively large with pink wing-like sepals, and a furry maroon-brown lip with yellow markings being the part that closely resembles the furry body of a bee. When you see this species in the field, the resemblance is obvious and rather cunning. 

The Bee Orchid is a member of a group of orchids that evolved in the Mediterranean region to use this mimic tactic to enable pollination. The unsuspecting male bees are lured to the plant under false pretences, expecting the orchid’s cunning flower disguise to be a female with which to mate. The resulting contact between the bee and the flower enables the transference of pollen from plant to plant. However, in the UK the bee species the plant aims to attract isn’t present, so here it relies on self-pollination.  

The flowering period for this species is throughout June and July, so we are at the end of the flowering season now. If you are lucky and go and look for them at known sites in the next few days, you may just get to see a late flowering individual.

Rob Read. July 2021.