Ophrys insectifera - Fly Orchid - (Orchidaceae)

Ophrys insectifera - Fly Orchid This orchid is rare in the UK and Ireland and is restricted to a few places in the southern parts of both countries. It is also found in many European countries.

This orchid is a wonderful example of how orchid flowers imitate insects in order to ensure pollination. This one fools wasps into thinking that they are the female of the wasp species.

The brown, velvety flowers of the Fly Orchid flowers really do look like flies and there are up to 20 borne on each flower spike which can grow as tall as 60 cm in height.

The plant has three or four basal leaves which appear wilted and even blackened by the time the flowers appear. This orchid tolerates a broad range of habitats from calcareous to mildly acidic soils and is the oprhrys species which reaches the farthest north in Europe having been recorded from Scandinavia - Denmark and Norway, in particular.

The specimen shown on the left was photographed in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland in mid-June.

We have seen and photographed this amazing flower in Ireland, France, England and also in the Anglesey Fens nature reserves on Anglesey in North Wales which protect habitats and species of worldwide importance. It was in one of these reserves in early July that we were lucky enough to see and photograph the very rare yellow form of the Fly Orchid - see below.

Rare yellow form of Ophrys insectifera Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR153f_ophrys_insectifera.jpg (Large file)...

Watermarked preview (new window) of Photolibrary image OR154f_ophrys_insectifera.jpg (Large file)...