Flor, prop de Narbona, França, abril de 2008

 

Inflorescència, prop de Narbona, França, abril de 2008

 

Ophrys sphegodes Mill. cf. (det. eFlora)

Ophrys sphegodes Mill. cf. (det. eFlora)

Alt Empordà, febrer de 2008

 

 

Baix Empordà, febrer de 2007

 

La Ophrys arachnitiformis és una microespècie del grup de la Ophrys sphegodes (Ophrys sphegodes Mill. subsp. arachnitiformis (Gren. & Philippe) Sundermann) de distribució basicament mediterrània. A Catalunya aquesta raça té els sèpals de color rosa clar o violaci, al Sud de França dominen les formes amb sèpals de tonalitats verdoses. Habita els herbeis d’anuals i les brolles aclarides. Es força rara.

The genus Ophrys is a large group of orchids from the alliance Orchis in the subtribe Orchidinae. There are many natural hybrids. The type species is Ophrys insectifera L.1753
They are referred to as the "Bee orchids" due to the flowers of some species resemblance to the furry bodies of Bumble Bees and other insects. Their scientific name is derived from the Greek word "ophrys", meaning "eyebrow", referring to the furry edges of the lips of several species.
They are terrestrial or ground orchids from central to South Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, up to the Caucasus Mountains, but mostly around the Mediterranean. They are considered the most important group of European terrestrial orchids.
During summer all Ophrys orchids are dormant as an underground bulbous tuber, which serves as a food reserve. In late summer/autumn they develop a rosette of leaves. Also a new tuber starts to grow and matures until the following spring; the old tuber slowly dies. The next spring the flowering stem starts to grow. During flowering the leaves already start to wither.
Most Ophrys orchids are dependent on symbiotic fungi. Because of this, some species only develop small alternate leaves. Transplanting specimens, especially wild specimens, is difficult, sometimes impossible, due to this symbiosis. The shiny, basal leaves have a green or bluish color.
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