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Carmel Bee-Orchid
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Carmel Bee-Orchid - "Ophrys Umbilicata"
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The genus Ophrys is a large group of orchids from the alliance Orchis in the subtribe Orchidinae. There are many natural hybrids. The type species is Ophrys insectifera L.1753
They are referred to as the "Bee orchids" due to the flowers of some species resemblance to the furry bodies of Bumble Bees and other insects. Their scientific name is derived from the Greek word "ophrys", meaning "eyebrow", referring to the furry edges of the lips of several species.
Ophrys was first mentioned in the book "Natural History" by Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD).
They are terrestrial or ground orchids from central to South Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, up to the Caucasus Mountains, but mostly around the Mediterranean. They are considered the most important group of European terrestrial orchids.
During summer all Ophrys orchids are dormant as an underground bulbous tuber, which serves as a food reserve. In late summer/autumn they develop a rosette of leaves. Also a new tuber starts to grow and matures until the following spring; the old tuber slowly dies. The next spring the flowering stem starts to grow. During flowering the leaves already start to wither.
Most Ophrys orchids are dependent on symbiotic fungi. Because of this, some species only develop small alternate leaves. Transplanting specimens, especially wild specimens, is difficult, sometimes impossible, due to this symbiosis. The shiny, basal leaves have a green or bluish color.
The flowers surpass all other European orchids. Two to twelve flowers grow on an erect stem with basal leaves. They are absolutely unique not only because of their unequaled beauty, color range and exceptional forms, but also because of the ingenuity by which they attract insects. Their lip mimics several insects, such as that of a bee, a wasp, or a beetle, attracting and duping the right pollinator. This visual cue serves as a close-range attractant. This pollination mimicry is enhanced by producing the scent of the receptive female insect. This is the long-range attractant. These insect pheromones cause them to approach and investigate the flowers more closely. This all happens in a period that only males are active and females haven't appeared yet.
The Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) 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.
Every Ophrys orchid has its own pollinator insect and is completely dependent on this species for its survival. Furthermore, duped males are not likely to return. They even ignore other plants of the same species. Therefore, only about 10% of an Ophrys population gets pollinated. This is enough to preserve the population, since each Ophrys orchid produces about 12,000 minute seeds. |
jaycee, uleko, Ishi, gerbilratz, Juyona, crs, rousettus has marked this note useful
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- uleko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2369 W: 164 N: 7114]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(22494) - [2008-04-04 12:57]
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Hello David,
Very fine sharp capture of these pretty Ophrys flowers. Beautiful colours and a lovely soft background. I like seeing part of the tall stem while at the same time I may have cropped it below the two flowers in focus. Still, a very fine composition! We only have one member of this family in Sweden and that's Ophrys insectifera.
TFS and regards, Ulla
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- Ishi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 96 W: 0 N: 441]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1704) - [2008-04-04 13:14]
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Hi David,
Very nice take of this lovely Ophrys.
Nice colors indeed. Some cropping would have helped to focus attention on the flowers.
Cheers!
Ishi
Very fine orchids, good composition and excellent colouration. Very good dof.
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- Juyona
(13031)
- [2008-04-04 13:31]
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Hola David,
precioso trabajo e interesantes detalles,
color y bg. buen foco,
saludos
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- lousat
(9081)
- [2008-04-04 13:33]
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Hi David,it seem that in Israel there are orchids everywhere ..ehehe..this is great,wonderfull sharpness and great colours,my best compliments to show so perfectly my prefered flower,thanks for share,Luciano
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- crs
(1157)
- [2008-04-04 21:27]
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Hi David,
I like the way clearly rendered flowers come out from the blurry background. Flowers colors and patern are amaising. DOF is very good showing great details of the flowers. Colors also are nicely and natural looking rendered.
Thank you for sharing,
Cristian
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- manyee
(19602)
- [2008-04-04 22:59]
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Amazing designs on those orchids!
Nature is such a clever mimic.
Excellent focus on the flowers, especially the one on the right.
Great DOF resulting in the nice blurred BG.
Well saturated colors.
TFS. : )
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- jaycee
(14043)
- [2008-04-05 9:14]
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Hi David,
How beautiful and how fascinating! When I first looked at the picture I thought there were two insects on the plant. These Orchids are wonderful and most unusual. Exquisite colors, excellent details and fine textures. Thank you for the introduction.
Jane
Shalom David,
Very beautiful species of Ophrys. Already all orchids very beautiful. I am zoologist, but I am also keen on very much this beautiful plant family. Your macro great with great sharp details, POV/OOF, colors, composition. Nice work, TFS.
PS: A small reminding, I think you know species name is should be witten with small (not capital) letter. e.g. Ophrys umbilicata. This is not big mistakes for TN members, but it is important taxonomically.
best wishes
Ahmet
Hi Dave,
Excellent!
I especially like the way you got 3 flowers in the frame - one in focus and the other 2 with different blur levels.
TFS, Shir
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 261 W: 18 N: 411]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}