It has a distribution that includes western and northern Europe extending to parts of southern England but may also be found as far east as Corfu and possibly also in southern Spain. The distribution may however be uncertain because of confusion between related species. In Britain, it is restricted to parts of Dorset, Hampshire and Kent and is regarded as rare although where it is found it may be in stands of many hundreds of plants. Plant is usually found in grassy areas.
Description[]
Plant blooms in spring with several 2.5 to 3.8 cm flowers. It forms stands of relatively short plants between 30 cm to 40 cm in April and May. The flowers have yellow-green sepals and a velvety brown labellum with a distinctive H marking so that the flowers much resembles an arthropod and especially a spider.
It is classifies as a British Red Data Book plant. Despite its apparent vulnerability, it has very successfully colonised the chalk spoil dumping grounds created near Dover at Samphire Hoe from the excavations of the Channel Tunnel.
Culture[]
Plants prefer well-drained low-fertility soils and areas with partial shade. Plants are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides and transplanting because it kills symbiotic fungus. The plant is usually propagated through seed culture. This species is cool growing but not cold tolerant. Divide plant when flower fades. Grow in medium amount of light and cool temperatures.
Varities[]
Image
Name
Description
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. aesculapii
The plant is found from Albania to S. Turkey. Sepals are green, Petals are yellow, and Lip is brown with a red H shape and yellow edge
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. araneola Rchb. (1831)
Plant is also known as the Small Spider Ophrys and found in Europe, Asia Minor. Sepals and Petals are green, and Lip is dark red with a green lines.
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. araneola Rchb. (1831)
Plant is also known as the Small Spider Ophrys and found in Europe, Asia Minor.Sepals and Petals are green, and Lip is green with a white outlines of an H.
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. araneola Rchb. (1831)
Plant is also known as the Small Spider Ophrys and found in Europe, Asia Minor.Sepals and Petals are green, and Lip is brown with blue H.
The plant is found in Greece. Sepals and Petals are light pink, and Lip is dark red
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa (Desf.) Soó ex E.Nelson (1962)
The plant is found in South Eastern Europe to South Turkmenistan and is commonly known as the Bosom Orchid. Sepals and Petals are light pink, and Lip is dark red with a blue H
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa (Desf.) Soó ex E.Nelson (1962)
The plant is found in South Eastern Europe to South Turkmenistan and is commonly known as the Bosom Orchid. Sepals are green with light red coloring and Petals are yellow, and Lip is dark red with a two long blue streaks
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa (Desf.) Soó ex E.Nelson (1962)
The plant is found in South Eastern Europe to South Turkmenistan and is commonly known as the Bosom Orchid. Sepals and Petals are green, and Lip is dark red with a blue H
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa (Desf.) Soó ex E.Nelson (1962)
The plant is found in South Eastern Europe to South Turkmenistan and is commonly known as the Bosom Orchid. Sepals are green with light red coloring and Petals are yellow, and Lip is dark red with a two blue specks in a straiht pattern
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. praecox
The plant is found in France. Sepals and Petals are white, and Lip is dark brown with a blue H.
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. spruneri [Nyman] Nelson
The plant is found from Sicilia to Israel. Sepals and petals are pink. Lip is brown with a blue H shape
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. spruneri [Nyman] Nelson
The plant is found from Sicilia to Israel. Sepals and petals are pink. Lip is brown with a blue web like shape
Ophrys sphegodes variant
Sepals are red and Petals are green, and Lip is dark red with a white markings
Ophrys sphegodes variant
Sepals are green with an orange edge and Petals are green, and Lip is dark brown with a connected patch of blue.
Ophrys sphegodes variant
Sepals are green with an orange edge and Petals are green, and Lip is dark brown with two blue streaks.
Naming[]
Common Name:The Wasp-Like Ophyrs - The Early Spider Orchid
Synonyms[]
Arachnites aranifera Bubani 1901
Arachnites fuciflora var. panormitana Tod. 1842
Myodium araniferum (Huds.) Salisb. 1812
Ophrys arachnites var. panormitana Todaro
Ophrys aranifera Hudson 1761
Ophrys aranifera f. epirotica Renz 1928
Ophrys aranifera f. latipetala Chaub. ex St.-Amans 1821
Ophrys aranifera f. oodicheila Renz 1928
Ophrys aranifera f. peralba G.Keller in W.Zimmerman 1912
Ophrys aranifera f. pseudomuscifera Ruppert 1917
Ophrys aranifera f. purpurea A.Camus in E.G.Camus & A.A.Camus 1929
Ophrys aranifera f. semilunaris W.Zimm. 1917
Ophrys aranifera subsp. helenae (Renz) Soó in ?
Ophrys aranifera subsp. litigiosa (E.G.Camus) P.Fourn. in ?
Ophrys aranifera subsp. macedonica H.Fleischm. ex Soó 1927
Ophrys aranifera subvar. bavarica Soó 1927
Ophrys aranifera var. aurantiaca Beauverd 1929
Ophrys aranifera var. euchlora J.Murray 1905# Ophrys aranifera var. flavescens M.Schulze 1894
Ophrys aranifera var. rotulata Beck 1890# Ophrys aranifera var. subfucifera Rchb.f. 1851