Ophrys bombyliflora - Bumblebee Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

This orchid is widespread throughout the Mediterranean although our experience is that it is less common the further east you travel. In the Algarve region of Portugal it is virtually impossible to miss it because it occurs with such frequency and in such great numbers during its flowering time, which is from the end of February through to the beginning of May. We have also seen it in Crete, but in far fewer numbers.

Bumblebee Orchid plant

A short but robust Bumblebee Orchid plant growing in the Algarve

Although normally quite a small, short plant we have seen Bumblebee Orchids up to 35 cm in height in places where they are competing with tall plants for light. The flowers have very distinctive and relatively large, oval green sepals and small, triangular petals which are sometimes tinged with a bronze colour. The lip is three-lobed and a brownish colour sometimes with a bluish speculum although this is not always present - see below.

This ophrys species is unmistakable, unlike many others, and there can be little confusion when it comes to identification. Although it is insect-pollinated, the main reason for its success in building enormous colonies is that it also reproduces vegetatively via its numerous root-tubers.

Bumblebee Orchid closeup

This close-up picture shows the deeply divided lip of the species, but in this specimen there is no discernible speculum.

Ophrys bombyliflora favours calcareous substrates - one reason why it is so common on the coastal tract of the Algarve where the ground is sandy and has a high content of crushed sea shells. It also occurs on waste ground, in the garrigue and in the margins of abandoned farmland.

The specimens above were photographed in Portugal on the Algarve in mid March.