What Are Bee Orchids Information About The Bee Orchid Flower

A small orchid, the Bee orchid has a rosette of leaves at ground level and two leaves that grow up the stem as a sheath. The stem displays a number of relatively large flowers with pink sepals that look like wings, and furry, brown lips that have yellow markings on, just like a bee.

1. What is particular interesting about a bee orchid flower?
2. Where does bee orchid come from?
3. Is the bee orchid rare?
4. What do bee orchids imitate?
5. Can you move bee orchids?
6. Why do bee orchids look like bees?
7. Are pyramidal orchids rare?
8. Are bee orchids rare in UK?
9. Are bee orchids protected?
10. Are early purple orchids protected?
11. How do wild orchids spread?
12. Are wild orchids protected in UK?
13. How do orchids reproduce sexually?
14. Do honey bees like orchids?
15. What happens when a bee lands on a flower?
16. How did orchids evolve?
17. How do pollinators see flowers?
18. Why do you think this plant has flowers that look like bees?
19. When pollen fertilizes another plant what is the result?

What is particular interesting about a bee orchid flower?

Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Orchidaceae. It serves as an example of sexually deceptive pollination and floral mimicry, as well as of a highly selective and highly evolved plant–pollinator relationship.

Where does bee orchid come from?

Found in open grassland on base-rich soil, such as chalk grasslands and also banks, woodland rides and pastures. Bee Orchids like a bit of disturbance - occurring in disused quarries, sand dunes, mine spoil-heaps, roadsides, railway embankment and even waste ground in towns.

Is the bee orchid rare?

This well-known orchid is widespread not just in the southern half of the UK and Ireland, but can be found in many European countries, too. We have photographed it in England, Wales, Ireland, France, Portugal and also found it growing in Bulgaria and Slovenia. It occurs as far north in Europe as Holland and Denmark.

What do bee orchids imitate?

Bee orchids mimic the shape and scent of bees in order to lure them into 'pseudocopulation', where the male insect attempts to mate with the flower. While the bee gets nothing but a wasted effort, the orchid transfers some of its pollen to the bee.

Can you move bee orchids?

Far from being difficult to move, as is often thought, they can in fact be transplanted quite easily, should the necessity arise.

Why do bee orchids look like bees?

The fuzzy little bee orchid flowers look like real bees feeding on three pink petals. ... This bit of bee orchid mimicry ensures the plant is pollinated, as the male bees transfer the pollen to nearby female plants. The sweet aroma doesn't hurt either when it comes to attracting amorous pollinators.

Are pyramidal orchids rare?

emarginata is a rare variety of the Pyramidal Orchid with an almost unlobed lip. It was first found in East Sussex in 1974 and has since been found elsewhere.

Are bee orchids rare in UK?

Sadly, the right species of bee doesn't occur in the UK, so Bee Orchids are self-pollinated here. Look out for their diminutive flower spikes on dry, chalk and limestone grasslands from June to July.

Are bee orchids protected?

Bee orchids are protected, as are all wild flowers, under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Are early purple orchids protected?

That's the local name for early-purple orchids, which, as the name suggests, start flowering relatively early, in spring. ... Are orchids protected? Actually, no, not necessarily.

How do wild orchids spread?

In the wild, orchids propagate, or reproduce, much the same way other plants do. They are pollinated and the pollen and seeds spread to other areas. When they find a favorable growing medium, they will put down the meager roots that they have and grow.

Are wild orchids protected in UK?

Are wild orchids protected in the UK? Like all wildflowers, orchids are protected under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). This means that it's illegal to intentionally uproot any wild plant without authorisation.

How do orchids reproduce sexually?

Like most plants, orchids are able to reproduce themselves in two different ways; the one way sexually by seed, and the other asexually by vegetative propagation. ... Vegetative propagation can be accomplished in three ways; that is, by division, back bulbs and offshoots.

Do honey bees like orchids?

From an evolutionary perspective, the sexual strategy is a bit puzzling. Orchids that offer nectar or mimic food can attract a wide variety of food-seeking pollinators -- bees, wasps, flies, ants and so on.

What happens when a bee lands on a flower?

When a bee lands on a flower, the hairs all over the bees' body attract pollen grains through electrostatic forces. Stiff hairs on their legs enable them to groom the pollen into specialized brushes or pockets on their legs or body, and then carry it back to their nest.

How did orchids evolve?

The team's new evolutionary timeline begins 112 million years ago, when the first orchids appeared. ... As flowers evolved intricate structures to attach pollinia—some orchids stick them smack between the eyes of their favorite insect species, for instance—reproductive barriers likely formed, giving birth to new species.

How do pollinators see flowers?

Like humans, bees can perceive different colors. (This has been know for over 100 years.) Unlike humans, however, bees can perceive ultraviolet (UV) light. These patterns are sometimes referred to as “honey guides” or “nectar guides” that presumably serve to direct the pollinators toward the center of flowers.

Why do you think this plant has flowers that look like bees?

The bee orchid has flowers that look like the females of a particular species of bee. When male bees are tricked into mating with them, they get covered in pollen and spread it from flower to flower. ... The ancestor of the bee orchid probably relied on nectar to lure bees, just like other flowers.

When pollen fertilizes another plant what is the result?

After fertilization occurs, each ovule develops into a seed. Each seed contains a tiny, undeveloped plant called an embryo. The ovary surrounding the ovules develops into a fruit that contains one or more seeds.