Ophrys oestriferaM.Bieb. - Bee Orchid
Scientific Description:
Plants (10−)15−60 cm. Leaves 3−6, erecto-patent. Spike fairly dense, to 20(−25) cm, 2−12(−20)-flowered. Sepals rose-purple or greenish-white, with dark green mid-vein. Petals lanceolate, ± broadened or slightly auriculate at base, rose-purple, 4−5.5(−7) mm, velvety. Labellum deeply 3-lobed, 8−12(−16) mm, dark brown or brownish-purple velvety; lateral lobes ± villous; middle lobe ovate, strongly convex, with forwardly or slightly upward-directed, glabrous, greenish-yellow appendix at apex; speculum occupying most of middle lobe, forming a pattern of pale yellowish to greyish-blue lines, enclosing 1−3 dark brown velvety ovate zones. Column with apiculate connective.
subsp. oestrifera
Flowers moderately large, labellum 8−10(−12) mm.
Flowering time: May–July.
Habitat: Meadows, Quercus L. scrub, Pinus L. forest, roadsides, often in wet places, 150−1700 m.
Reference:
Renz J & Taubenheim G (1984). Ophrys oestrifera Bieb., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 495.
Public Description:
Ophrys oestrifera, commonly known as “bee orchid”, is native to Türkiye and Eastern Mediterranean countries, Crimea, Caucasia and Iran. It is a tuberous perennial herbaceous plant up to 60 cm tall with rose-purple flowers. Bee orchid grows meadows, oak scrub, pine forest, roadsides, often in wet places and it blooms from May and July.
Anonymous 1 (2017). http://yabanicicek.com/ophrys-oestrifera-ek-bilgi.php/, Accessed date: 09.07.2017.
Deniz İG (2012). Ophrys L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 638–645.