Ophrys lutea

Ophrys lutea, the yellow bee-orchid, is a species of orchid native to southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, the range extending from Portugal and Morocco to Syria.[4][5]

Ophrys lutea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Genus: Ophrys
Species:
O. lutea
Binomial name
Ophrys lutea
Synonyms[4]
  • Arachnites luteus (Cav.) Tod.

Description of the flower

Broad asymmetric lateral sepals, dorsal sepal lowered.

Extended petals, yellow or with a blue-grey or brown spotted velvety macula. Pollinated by male Andrena bees. This species is notable among Ophrys for the fact that the pollinating bees sit on the labellum facing away from the pollinaria instead of facing towards them, and thus collect the pollinaria with their abdomen.

Subspecies

Numerous subspecific names have been proposed, but as of Sep 2023 the following are currently accepted:[6]

  • Ophrys lutea subsp. aspea (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Faurh. - Tunisia, Libya
  • Ophrys lutea subsp. galilaea (H.Fleischm. & Bornm.) Soó - from Portugal and Morocco to Syria
  • Ophrys lutea subsp. laurensis (Geniez & Melki) Kreutz
  • Ophrys lutea subsp. lutea Cav. - from Portugal and Morocco to Turkey
  • Ophrys lutea subsp. phryganae (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Melki - Italy, Greece, Turkey

Flowering period

March to May

Habitat

The orchid grows in full sun or shade on limey dry or damp soils, pastures, and thin woodland.

Yellow bee-orchid

from the French Wikipedia; technical translation of some words still needing checking

References
  1. Rankou, H. (2011). "Ophrys lutea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T175920A7143357. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. "Ophrys lutea Cav". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  3. "Ophrys lutea Cav". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  4. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. Altervista Flora Italiana, Ofride gialla, Yellow Bee Orchid
  6. "Ophrys lutea Cav. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
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