Ophrys - english | Europas orkidéer

Home About Orchids | Orchid sites | Galleries | Comments |

Ophrys

Ophrys insectifera, flugblomster

Ophrys is by far the largest orchid genus in Europe. In Sweden there is only one species, the fly orchid, Ophrys insectifera. Notes on Ophrys apifera have, however, been reported from Skåne. Time will tell if it is a temporary appearance or if the species can establish itself. It is, above all, within the Mediterranean region you will find Ophrys species, although some species extends up through Europe and as mentioned above, one species with us.
The genus is divided into two sections, Pseudophrys and Euophrys. All Ophrys species are pollinated by insects, usually by some species of wasps when they try to mate with the flower. It is how the wasps mating attempts is done that make the breakdown into the two sections. At all species in the section Pseudophrys the wasp lands “upside down” on the lip, i.e. the pollinia stick to the abdomen. At the species within section Euophrys the wasp lands on the lip with its head upward, therefore the pollinia stick to the wasps head.

To the right of this page you will find a list of all Ophrys species that have a gallery. The list has a strict alphabetic order. A click on any of the names will take you to the image gallery for that species.
Because the great amount of species in the genus Ophrys, a grouping has been made below. Possibly, it may help if you try to identify a species that you are unsure of. It should be noted that this is not an attempt to do a scientific division of the Ophrys genus but a simplified way that has worked for me to keep track of all the species.

Pseudophrys
Pseudophrys is the smaller of the two sections within Ophrys. Characteristic for the species within the section is that the insect, when trying to mate with the flower, landing with its head towards the tip of the lip. That means the pollinia are attached to the rear body. All species have the typical "V" shaped groove from lip base and some bit down the lip (except for the Ophrys omegaifera group).

Ophrys phryganae

Ophrys lutea-group

The group is characterized by flowers with a wide yellow border around the lip and where the lip center is more or less dark brown. Other petals are yellowish green.

Ophrys lutea

Ophrys lutea subsp. quarteirae

Ophrys melena

Ophrys phrygana

Ophrys sicula (O. lutea subsp. minor)

Ophrys subfusca subsp. archimedea

Ophrys subfusca-group (West)

The species in this group can be seen as a cross between the species in the group above and the one below O. fusca species. What remains are the yellow border around the lip but narrower while the brown, middle part dominates.

Ophrys subfusca subsp. archimedea

Ophrys subfusca subsp. flammeola

Ophrys subfusca subsp. laurensis

Ophrys subfusca subsp. nummida

Ophrys blithoperta

Ophrys blithoperta-group (East)

Ophrys blithoperta

Ophrys persephonae

Top

Ophrys funerea

Ophrys fusca-group

The species in this group have flowers with no, or only a narrow yellow border. The lip is dominated by dark brown to reddish-brown tones. The upper part of the lip (speculum) differs in color, usually blue / blue-gray sometimes with a lighter front rim which forms the typical omega-sign. For the inexperienced, it is very difficult to distinguish between species if several grow in the same area. Because no species in this group (in my material) overlaps the split in east / west, I have divided the group into two.

West:

Ophrys fusca subsp. bilunulata

Ophrys fusca subsp. caesiella

Ophrys fusca subsp. calocaerina

Ophrys fusca subsp. funerea

Ophrys fusca subsp. fusca

Ophrys fusca subsp. hespera
Ophrys fusca subsp. lucana

Ophrys fusca subsp. lucifera

Ophrys fusca subsp. obaesa

Ophrys fusca subsp. sabulosa

Ophrys fusca subsp. zonata

Ophrys gackiae

Ophrys iricolor subsp. maxima
Ophrys iricolor subsp. eleonorae
Ophrys lojaconoi

Ophrys lupercalis
Ophrys pallida

Ophrys creberrima

East:

Ophrys attaviria
Ophrys bilunulata subsp. punctulata

Ophrys cinereophila

Ophrys creberrima

Ophrys cressa
Ophrys creticola

Ophrys parvula
Ophrys pelinaea

Ophrys perpusilla

Ophrys thriptiensis

Ophrys omegaifera

Ophrys omegaifera-group

This has been mainly an eastern group, but now there are a number of species, even in the western Mediterranean. Species characterized in that it lacks the, for Pseudophrys typical, "V" shaped groove at the base of the lip. Typical is also the white, clear omega-sign across the lip. Lip front is curving strongly and usually densely hairy.

West:

East:

Ophrys fleischmannii

Ophrys israelitica

Ophrys omegaifera subsp. omegaifera
Ophrys omegaifera subsp. basilissa

Ophrys sitiaca

Top

Euophrys

This is the larger of the two sections within Ophrys. Typical of Euophrys is that the insects that pollinate the species in the group are landing with their head towards the center of the flower and therefore get the pollinia on their head.

There are two species I have not placed any groups. It is:

Ophrys apifera which usually form its own group. It is not likely that this species will be confused with any other species. It can be found in the entire Mediterranean area as well as rest of Europe north to Denmark and south Sweden.

Ophrys bombyliflora Usually, this is in the O. tenthredinifera-group as it is closely related to the species in this group. But because it is so completely different from the other members of the group, I have chosen here to keep it off. Even for this species there is no likelihood of confusion with other species. More or less common, spread in most parts of the Mediterranean.

Ophrys argolica subsp. argolica

Ophrys argolica-group

This is a group that has representatives in most of the Mediterranean areas, although most species are highly localized and therefore grows in limited areas. The flowers are large and usually with a maroon lip with pattern limited to a few spots that sometimes sit together forming glasses or a horseshoe.

Ophrys argolica subsp. argolica

Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella

Ophrys argolica subsp. crabronifera
Ophrys elegans
Ophrys lesbis

Ophrys lucis

Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertolonii

Ophrys bertolonii-group

The species in this group have flowers where the lip is dark brown or black and covered with short hairs. The pattern on the lip has form of a blue, metallic shield. Other petals are white to pink and usually bent backward. The group is a purely western group.
Ophrys bertolonii subsp. aurelia
Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertoloniformis

Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertolonii

Ophrys bertolonii subsp. explanata

Ophrys bertolonii subsp. saratoi

Ophrys exaltata subsp. exaltata

Ophrys exaltata-group

The group consists of a few species with very limited distribution, all in the western Mediterranean. The lip has a narrow / oval shape with small "breasts". Usually with a hairy border around the edge. Lip color is brown in various shades, other petals green to pink. In most of the species flowers are very variable.

Ophrys archipelagi

Ophrys exaltata subsp. exaltata
Ophrys exaltata subsp. montis-leonis

Ophrys exaltata subsp. morisii

Top

Ophrys lacaitae x calliantha

Ophrys fuciflora-group

The species I brought together in this group are characterized by large flowers. Among these we can find the largest flowers in the Ophrys genus. I have kept the western species apart from the species from the eastern Mediterranean. The typically flowers have a broad and widespread lip. The basic color is golden brown, dark brown or yellowish. The pattern may be more or less complicated with blue-gray drawings lined with white. At the lip base there are sometimes horns but not especially well developed. Sepals and petals are green, white or pink.

West:
Ophrys annae
Ophrys appennina

Ophrys apulica
Ophrys dinarica
Ophrys fuciflora

Ophrys lacaitae
Ophrys oxyrrhynchos subsp. biancae
Ophrys oxyrrhynchos subsp. calliantha
Ophrys oxyrrhynchos subsp. oxyrrhynchos

Ophrys parvimaculata

Ophrys candica

East:

Ophrys candica
Ophrys episcopalis
Ophrys halia
Ophrys helios
Ophrys heterochila
Ophrys holoserica subsp. ethemeae
Ophrys laceana
Ophrys levantina

Ophrys saliarisii
Ophrys samia
Ophrys samiotissa

Ophrys heldreichii

Ophrys heldreichii-group

There are only eastern species in this group. They have quite large flowers usually with a scolopax-like appearance but larger than these. Here, too, the chubby lip has rich patterns often in yellow and white and with the typical horns that are often well developed.

Ophrys calypsus var. calypsus

Ophrys calypsus var. pseudoapulica

Ophrys calypsus var. scolopaxoides
Ophrys heldreichii

Ophrys homeri

Ophrys polyxo

Ophrys insectifera

Ophrys insectifera-group

Fly orchid is well known from our country as the only Ophrys. The other two species in the group differ mainly by the lower part of the lip which has a wide yellow border.

Ophrys aymoninii

Ophrys insectifera

Ophrys subinsectifera spanish Pyrenees (no gallery)

Ophrys lunulata

Ophrys lunulata-group

These are species that each one has a very limited distribution, all in the western Mediterranean. The flowers are characterized by a narrow lip because the sides are strongly folded downwards. The color is usually dark reddish brown and the pattern is often limited to a few spots or a central shield. Other petals are green or pink in various shades.

Ophrys lunulata
Ophrys panattensis
Ophrys promontori

Top

Ophrys cretica subsp. cretica

Ophrys reinholdii-group (east)

Common to all species in the group is the dark color of the lip, almost black. The white patterns on the lip contrasts strongly. Besides O. reinholdii have all clearly three lobed lips. All species in this group are eastern species.

Ophrys cretica subsp. ariandnae

Ophrys cretica subsp. beloniae

Ophrys cretica subsp. bicornuta
Ophrys cretica subsp. cretica

Ophrys kotschyi

Ophrys reinholdii

Ophrys mammosa

Ophrys mammosa-group (east)

The species in this group are very similar species in the O. sphegodes group. The coarse characterization given there also applies here. None of the species in O. mammosa group, however, can be found in the western part of the Mediterranean.

Ophrys leucophthalma

Ophrys mammosa subsp. mammosa
Ophrys mammosa subsp. falsomammosa

Ophrys morio

Ophrys spruneri
Ophrys spruneri subsp. grigoriana

The following two species, which are usually brought to this group, has a larger lip. The pattern of these is often limited to a
central placed horseshoe-shaped shield.

Ophrys ferrum-eqinum
Ophrys gottfrediana

Ophrys sphegodes subsp. sphegodes

Ophrys sphegodes-group (west)

The group is characterized by flowers with a round to oval lip. The lip is often convex both longitudinally and transversely, often with the typical two basal swellings, "breasts", at the base. The color is brown in various shades and lip markings usually forms an "H". Sepaler green, sometimes with a tint of red. Petals usually olive to brownish green.

Ophrys argentaria
Ophrys ausonia
Ophrys brutia

Ophrys classica

Ophrys incubacea
Ophrys minipassionis

Ophrys passionis
Ophrys riojana
Ophrys sipontensis
Ophrys sphegodes
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. panormitana
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. praecox
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. tarquinia

Ophrys provincialis

Top

Ophrys scolopax

Ophrys scolopax/oestrifera-group

Usually these species are divided into a O. scolopax group for the western species and a O. oestrifera group for the species from the East. All species in these groups have the typical "wasp" - body. The lip sides are folded down and partially under the lip and creates this round body. The rich patterns of yellow and dark brown / red / black color complete the impression. Each has the side lobes of the lip transformed to more or less protracted horn.

West:

Ophrys philippi

Ophrys scolopax subsp. picta

Ophrys scolopax subsp. scolopax
Ophrys sphegifera

Ophrys vetula

East:

Ophrys attica
Ophrys bucephala
Ophrys ceto
Ophrys cerastes var. cerastes

Ophrys cornuta

Ophrys cornutula

Ophrys dodecanensis
Ophrys flavomarginata
Ophrys lapetica

Ophrys masticorum

Ophrys minutula
Ophrys oestrifera
Ophrys oestrifera subsp. stavri
Ophrys orientalis

Ophrys orphanidea
Ophrys rhodia

Ophrys umbilicata

Ophrys speculum subsp. speculum

Ophrys speculum-group

The group consists of some of the most spectacular species in Europe in terms of flower shape. The majority of the lip consists of a large blue "mirror" bordered by a yellow border and finally a border of thick, brown hair. Can hardly be confused with other species.

Ophrys regis-ferdinandii (east)

Ophrys speculum subsp speculum

Ophrys speculum subsp. orientalis (west)

Ophrys speculum subsp. lusitanica Spain/Portugal

Ophrys tenthredinifera-group

All species in this group were included in the former species Ophrys tenthredinifera which therefore was represented throughout the Mediterranean region. As the understanding of orchids rose, the main species has been broken apart and described as separate species. Today, it is very unclear, where the original O. tenthredinifera can be found, if it can be found at all. All the different parts of the splitted O. tenthredinifera are described as new species. I have divided the group in east / west because none of the currently described species are found throughout the whole area.