Monday 11 June 2007

Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera


I couldn't believe it when i came across this flower. There i was happily walking along admiring all the other orchids growing at Anchor Bottom when suddenly i spied this beauty in the long grass. I've never seen one of these growing in the wild before. I think they're just incredible. I posted this picture of the bee orchid because it's an angle you don't usually see in photos. For example, I'd never noticed the small spur at the lip of the flower before because it can't be seen very easily from straight on. You might also be able to make out the flower bud ready to break open slightly higher up the stem. Apparantly the flowers open from the bottom of the stalk upwards so the flowers at the top are the last to open.

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