Ophrys apifera - Bee orchid - (Orchidaceae)

This well-known orchid is widespread not just in the southern half of the UK and Ireland, but can be found in many European countries, too. We have photographed it in England, Wales, Ireland, France, Portugal and also found it growing in Bulgaria and Slovenia. It occurs as far north in Europe as Holland and Denmark. It is localised, and its flowering is sporadic which accounts for failures to find it flowering in the same stations year upon year. It tolerates moist-to-dry calcareous habitats, and in Wales (where we live) Kenfig National Nature Reserve is a very good place to see Bee Orchids - they can be found in meadows there, and also in some of the dune slacks.

Bee Orchid whole plant

A robust Bee Orchid thrives in the sand dunes at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales.

Ophrys apifera - Bee orchid

The flower on the right shows pollinia which are falling forward and down to rest on the stigma to facilitate self-pollination.

The Bee Orchid is thought to be largely self-pollinating - particularly in the UK - and this may account for the high incidence of so-called monstrous forms.

The appearance of the flower lives up to its name as the lip closely resembles a bumblebee. It has three bright pink sepals and usually produces three to five flowers but exceptionally ten or more - the plant at the top of this page had eleven flowers.

Bee Orchid - white variant

Occasionally flowers with white sepals are to be found.

The Bee Orchid flowers quite late. In the UK June is the peak flowering time, but, even in the Mediterranean as far south as Portugal, this orchid starts to flower in April and can often be found well into May when most of the other ophrys species that occur there have long died back.

Rare variety Ophrys apifera var belgarum

Pictured above is Ophrys apifera var. belgarum- a rare variety of Bee Orchid found from time to time.

The pictures on this page were taken in Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales (top) in mid-June, the Algarve in Portugal (second down) in May, the Lot Valley in France (third down) in early May, and Hampshire (bottom) in June.