Fly Orchid

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Fly Orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Orchidoideae Genus: Ophrys Species: O. insectifera
Binomial name
Ophrys insectifera L.
Synonyms
Orchis insectifera (L.) Crantz Ophrys myodes Jacq. Epipactis myodes (Jacq.) F.W.Schmidt Orchis myodes (Jacq.) Bernh. Malaxis myodes (Jacq.) Bernh.

Ophrys insectifera, the Fly Orchid, is a species of orchid and the type species of the genus Ophrys. It is native to Europe and favors sites with alkaline soil. 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. 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.^[1]

[edit] See also

• Galley Down Wood
• Cleaves Wood

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Media related to Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) at Wikimedia Commons
• Den virtuella floran - Distribution

v • d • e Orchid of the Year in Germany Western marsh orchid (1989) | Pyramidal orchid (1990) | Green-winged Orchid (1991) | Listera ovata (1992) | Military Orchid (1993) | Fen orchid (1994) | Bee Orchid (1995) | Cypripedium calceolus (1996) | Bug Orchid (1997) | Marsh Helleborine (1998) | Lizard Orchid (1999) | Red Helleborine (2000) | Autumn Ladies'-tresses (2001) | Bird's-nest Orchid (2002) | Fly Orchid (2003) | Frog Orchid (2004) | Burnt orchid (2005) | Broadleaf Helleborine (2006) | Nigritella nigra rhellicani (2007)