Ophrys fusca - Sombre Bee Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Ophrys fusca

This orchid is widespread in the Mediterranean, but is particularly common in the Algarve region in Portugal where it can occur in vast numbers. It is difficult to spot and the plants are often tucked away in dense (and prickly!) thyme bushes. Anywhere near the coast is a good place to look. It flowers in rocky and stony places in the garrigue. It is immensely variable making identification difficult for those who like certainty in their lives. It is frequently confused with Ophrys dyris ssp. omegaifera.

Ophrys fusca can grow up to 35 cm in height and have up to 10 quite large flowers. The sepals are yellowish-green, and the lip brownish and marbled with paler markings, and sometimes with a yellow border. It has a wing-shaped 'speculum' on the upper part. The flowers come early - often in late February and continues until April.

The vairable lip of Ophrys fusca

The illustrations on this page show how variable in appearance this wild orchid can be.

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

Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR151f_ophrys_fusca.jpg (Large file)...

Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR152f_ophrys_fusca.jpg (Large file)...