Fly Orchid

Ophrys muscifera


(also called Ophrys insectifera)

Habitat
Open pine woods, poor grassland and fenland on fairly dry to variably moist calcareous soils. Shade-loving plant.

Geographical spread
In Britain found mainly in southeast and southcentral England, in extreme south of Wales and in Denbighshire and Anglesey. Fairly frequent in Ireland. Distributed throughout Europe, extending northwards to Scandinavia and Finland and southwards only to northern parts of Spain, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula.

Size
15-40cm tall.

Coloration and looks
Resembles a fly-like insect, a shining slate-blue band across the centre gives the impression of folded wings of an insect.

Normal lifehistory
Development from the seedling occurs rapidly at first and the first foliage leaf appears in the winter following germination of the seed and the first tuber is produced in the second year. Each year the leaves develop in late autumn, stay green through the winter and die away just after flowering in early summer. Flowers in early May. The flower spike generally contains 2-8 widely spaced flowers.

Pollination
The Fly orchid is pollinated by a male burrowing wasp (Gorytes mystaceus). The insects mistake the lip of the flower for a female wasp and whilst it tries to copulate with the flower, pollen are removed and transferred to another plant. Because it is dependent on activity of male wasps, Fly orchids show irregular seed production from time to time and place to place.


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File last modified Thursday, October 3, 1996