Ophrys lutea

Yellow Ophrys
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Genus:	Ophrys
Species:	O. lutea
Binomial name
Ophrys lutea (Gouan) Cav.
Synonyms
Ophrys insectifera var. lutea Gouan (basionym) Arachnites lutea (Gouan) Tod.

Ophrys lutea, the Yellow Ophrys, is a species of orchid native to Europe

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

Ophrys lutea subsp. lutea Ophrys lutea subsp. galilaea (accepted name : Ophrys sicula Tineo) Ophrys lutea subsp. melena (accepted name : Ophrys sicula Tineo) Ophrys lutea subsp. murbeckii (accepted name : Ophrys × battandieri E.G.Camus) Ophrys lutea subsp. pseudospeculum (DC.) Kerguélen

Ophrys lutea subsp. murbeckii

Flowering period

March to May

Habitat

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

Distribution

Widely distributed in the Mediterranean area and in Atlantic regions of southern Europe, as far as the Charente in the north-west.

Yellow Ophrys

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

Source

• World Checklist of Monocotyledons, Kew Botanical gardens