Bee orchid (Rare)
The Bee orchid, whose flowers resemble the shape of a pretty and smiling child, is one of the many rare taxa of our country. It should be noted that this species is only known at a few locations, in spite of the thirteen year-long scientific studies on Antalya’s orchids. The flowers that resemble the particular bee species which helps pollination has been effective in the scientific naming of the species (api: bee, fera: bearing, carrying). The Bee orchid has a stronger structure in comparison with most other Ophrys species. There are 6-8 leaves which are 5-14 cm long. The inflorescence is tall with 3-12 flowers. The sepals are broadly ovoid-lanceolate in shape with colours ranging from reddish pink-purple; petals are triangular-ligulate in shape, with greenish pink-purple colours and velvety hairs. Labellum has three deep lobes at the base, with reddish brown-blackish colours; middle lobe has a spherical shape. The appendix is quite distinct, triangular in shape with yellowish green colour and curved to under the labellum.
