Ophrys fuciflora - Late Spider-orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Although widespread throughout Western and Central Europe this orchid is rare. In the UK, where its few remaining locations are restricted to Kent, the Late Spider-orchid is protected and the sites managed to ensure its survival in the wild.

Late Spider-orchid flowering in Italy

The flowers of Ophrys fuciflora are very large and showy.

This orchid grows in calcareous soils only, and it does not like tall, rank grass. Where it is proctected and its sites managed, the grass must be mown or grazed appropriately. In the wild in other parts of Europe it appears in dry-to-moist conditions in short grassland, garrigue, abandoned farmland, open woodland and scrub.

In the UK this plant flowers at the end of June and into the beginning of July - much later than the Early Spider-orchid - Ophrys sphegodes - which flowers in April and May and can be found on the Dorset coast. In other warmer parts of Europe the plants are more likely to be found flowering at the same time probably due to the mad rush of spring in these hotter countries. The flowers of the two plants bear little resemblance to each other despite their similar English names: the lip of Ophrys fuciflora is much squarer and reminiscent of the flower-shape of the Sawfly Orchid - Ophrys tenthredinifera - which also flowers in much the same places and at the same time in warmer parts of Europe. The flowers are pollinated by insects in Europe including bees of the Eucera genus, but little is known about pollinators in the UK except that the occurence of hybrids with other species confirms their presence.

Both the Early Spider-orchid and Late Spider-orchid plants that occur in the UK are regarded as 'hanging on' at their northern limit in Europe as a result of the climate being so much colder than the other countries in which they occur. It will be interesting to see if one of the (few?) benefits of global warming is that these wonderful wildflowers will actually extend their ranges in the UK if suitable habitat is present for them to do so.

The European countries in which Ophrys fuciflora can be found are Italy, Austria, Belgium and Spain amongst others.

Closeup picture of Ophrys fuciflora

The specimens shown here were photographed close to Monte Sant'Angelo in the Gargano Peninsula in Italy in mid April in very close proximity to many Ophrys sphegodes plants.