OPHRYS SICULA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Names:- Lesser yellow bee orchid

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ophrys lutea ssp. minor

Meaning:- Ophrys (L) Eye-brow, a name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny.

Sicula (L) From Sicily, Sicilian.

General description:- A delicate, thin stemmed perennial plant.

Stem:-

1) To 25 cm. tall.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, oval to lanceolate, blunt.

2) Cauline, narrower and pointed.

Flowers:-

1) Sepals, 6-10 mm.

2) Petals, 4-7 mm.

3) Labellum, 8-12 mm, almost flat with no curvature, and slightly furred, with fluted

lines on the base, centre of the labellum varies from orange-brown to purplish-

black, which spreads right up to the centre of the mid-lobe.

a) lateral lobes. small, flat, and yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, dehiscing by 3 or 6 longitudinal slits.

2) Seeds numerous, minute, with undifferentiated embryo and no endosperm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open pine forests, meadow areas, open

olive groves.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean. Widespread

and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Feb-Apr.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton