O.apifera was
first described by Hudson from England as far back as 1762. Its name
refers to the flowers resemblance to a bee and accordingly the species
has long
been commonly (and affectionately) known
as the Bee Orchid.
It's a widespread orchid with a distribution across temperate and
Mediterranean Europe as far east as the
Caucasus. In its favoured locations it can be abundant and its
choice of habitat is wide, ranging from the driest
chalk grassland and garrigue to wet even swampy conditions. It
predominently favours full sun positions but will tolerate (though not relish) even significant shade.
O.apifera
is largely self-pollinating and this autogamy seems responsible for the
frequent appearance of variant plants, some of which,
although not of
evolutionary significance occur on a sufficiently regular basis
to have aquired formal varietal
status.
O.apifera v trollii
is one of the commoner variants and occurs
throughout the range of the type species though it appears
to be particularly frequent
in the more western parts of the range. Its
appearance is distinctive with an elongated lip forming
a point at the tip. The overall colouration and pattern also differs
from type in being a mottled yellow brown in irregular patterns of
blotches and streaks. These features have led to the variety
being commonly known as the Wasp Orchid.
The pictures here are from the Purbeck hills of Dorset and
Warwickshire, UK and date from late June.
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