Ophrys insectifera | |||||||||||||||||
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Ophrys insectifera is a plant of the family Orchidaceae, a native of the British Isles and Europe favouring sites with alkaline soil.
Distribution[]
Ophrys insectifera is found all over Europe except in Spain and Portugal, northern Russia and Bulgaria. The plant is found in grassy areas with alkaline soil at 200 to 1000 meters.
Description[]
The plants use scent to attract male flies, which pollinate the flowers as they attempt to mate with the flower. The scent released by the flowers mimic female fly sexual pheromones. Plant grows in cool condition. Ophrys insectifera blooms from spring to summer with 2 to 14 flowers which are 3.75 cm in width. Plant grows in area with partial shade
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.
Naming[]
Commonly called the Fly orchid. The name arises because it resembles a fly, being totally dependent on flies and bees for pollination. However this is fairly unsuccessful as they seldom visit the flower and it forms seed only infrequently.
Synonyms[]
- Arachnites musciflora (Huds.) F.W.Schmidt 1793
- Epipactis myodes (Jacq.) F.W.Schmidt 1795
- Malaxis myodes (Jacq.) Bernh. 1800
- Ophrys insectifera f. apiculata (M.Schulze) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. bombifera (Bréb. ex Rchb.f.) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. dubia (Ruppert) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. longibracteata (Ruppert) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. parviflora (M.Schulze) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. rotundata (Ruppert) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera f. subbombifera (Ruppert) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera lus. ochroleuca (E.G.Camus) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera lus. virescens (Ruppert) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera lus. viridiflora (A.Camus) Soó 1970 publ. 1971
- Ophrys insectifera var. myodes L. 1753; Ophrys muscaria Scopoli ?
- Ophrys muscifera Hudson 1761
- Ophrys muscifera f. apiculata M.Schulze 1894
- Ophrys muscifera f. bombifera Bréb. ex Rchb.f. 1851
- Ophrys muscifera f. dubia Ruppert in W.Zimmerman 1912
- Ophrys muscifera f. longibracteata Ruppert 1924
- Ophrys muscifera f. ochroleuca E.G.Camus 1908
- Ophrys muscifera f. parviflora M.Schulze 1889
- Ophrys muscifera f. rotundata Ruppert 1912
- Ophrys muscifera f. subbombifera Ruppert 1924
- Ophrys muscifera f. virescens Ruppert 1928
- Ophrys muscifera f. viridiflora A.Camus 1929
- Ophrys myodes [L] Jacquin 1781
- Orchis insectifera (L.) Crantz 1769
- Orchis muscaria Scop. 1772
- Orchis muscifera (Huds.) Salisb. 1796
- Orchis musciflora Schrank 1789
- Orchis myodes (Jacq.) Bernhard 1800