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Ophrys bombyliflora-Bumblebee orchid

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Ophrys bombyliflora-Bumblebee orchid
Photo Information
Copyright: anita and mike allsopp (juanit) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 51 W: 4 N: 119] (666)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-20
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon 400D, Tamrom 90mm f2.8 DI
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Orchids of Britain and Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-23 8:40
Viewed: 344
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) ("Bumblebee Flower Eyebrow") is a typical example. It has flowers that look and smell so much like female Bumble Bees that males flying nearby are irresistibly drawn in by this chemical signal, stimulating them sexually. The insect gets so excited that he starts to copulate with the flower. This is termed pseudocopulation. The firmness, the smoothness and the velvety hairs of the lip are a further incentive for the insect to enter the flower. The pollinia inadvertently stick to the head or the abdomen of the male bumblebee. On visiting another orchid of the same species, the bumblebee pollinates its sticky stigma with the pollinia. The filaments of the pollinia have, during transport, taken such a position that the waxy pollen are able to stick to the stigma. Such is the refinement of the reproduction. If the filaments hadn’t taken the new position, the pollinia could not have pollinated the new orchid.

"Ophrys" is from the Greek in reference to the hairy lips of the flowers of this genus.

"bymbyli•flora" is from the Latin in reference to the silky flowers of this speices.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee_Orchid"







http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee_Orchid
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To arfer: Thankyoujuanit 1 08-29 15:19
To haraprasan: Thankyoujuanit 1 08-27 09:40
To angybone: Thankyoujuanit 1 08-27 09:39
To herve1993: Thankyoujuanit 1 08-23 15:09
To lawbert: Thankyoujuanit 1 08-23 15:07
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Anita.
A lovely picture showing great colours and framing. Perhaps a tighter aperture would have bought more of the beauty of this Orchid into view whilst still leaving a nice blurred background. An very informative note indeed. I Have learnt something. Thanks for sharing.
All the best
Paul

Bonjour anita,
Magnifique espèce, si rare en France... Ta photo montre bien les caractéristiques de la fleur, très originale.
Salutations
Hervé

I can see the bumblebee!!! WOW! How cool!
What a fascinating flower and a great shot showing us exactly why this orchid is named after the bumblebee.

Hi Anita,
A beautiful orchid you have registered here. Very nicely composed with excellent details and POV. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-27 19:11]
  • [+]

Hello Anita

I see something in all these orchids.They are so unique and beautiful.The POV and DOF is excellent and the flower is well focused with lovely detail.The colours are very natural.TFS

Rob

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