Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
- A single bee orchid plant was spotted by a resident in June and word soon spread to visitors who came looking for it. It is in the grass near the cliff edge.
- A week later, we found another solitary one which had already begun to form a seed pod. Both were found quite close to the cliff edge but a good 100m apart.
- The bee orchid flowers in June and July. The flowers have large ‘furry’ lower lips, brown with beautiful markings which make them look a little like a specific species of bee. This lower lip attracts male bees by mimicking a female bee in appearance and scent. They land, hoping to mate and then carry pollen between plants.
- The right species of bee for this process doesn’t live in the UK so Bee orchids self-pollinate in this country.
- Seeds germinate in spring and can take up to 6 years before the growing plant reaches a flowering stage. The flower may also only flower once in its lifetime.
- The Bee orchid is the county flower of Bedfordshire.
- This species used to be called ‘the Humble Bee orchid – ‘humble’ being a variation of ‘bumble’. Other names include Bee-flower, Bumble bee, Dumble dor and Honey-flower.
- Its classical name ‘ophrys’ comes from the Greek word meaning eyebrow. Roman and Greek women were said to use it to darken their eyebrows.
- In the language of flowers, the Bee Orchid stands for error and industry.
- Bee orchids are not endangered yet but their numbers are declining as their habitat is destroyed or they are picked or mown before they can set seed.
- All orchids are protected under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) so they may not be uprooted or traded across borders.
