View source for Ophrys

{{Short description|Genus of orchids}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = OphrysApifera.jpg
| image_caption = Bee orchid<br /> (''Ophrys apifera'' var. ''aurita'')
| display_parents = 3
| taxon = Ophrys
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]], 1753
| type_species = ''[[Ophrys insectifera]]''<ref>Jarvis, Taxon 41: 566 (1992)</ref>
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]], 1753 
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="gina"/>
| synonyms = 
* ''Arachnites'' <small>F.W.Schmidt</small>
* ''Myodium'' <small>Salisb.</small>
}}

The genus '''''Ophrys''''' is a large group of [[orchid]]s from the alliance [[Orchis]] in the subtribe [[Orchidinae]]. They are widespread across much of [[Europe]], [[North Africa]], [[Caucasus]], the [[Canary Islands]], and the [[Middle East]] as far east as [[Turkmenistan]].<ref name="gina">[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=140696 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref><ref>[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=Ophrys Altervista Flora Italiana, ''Ophrys'']</ref>

These plants are remarkable in that they successfully reproduce through [[pseudocopulation]], that is, their flowers mimic female insects to such a degree that amorous males are fooled into mating with the flowers, thereby pollinating them.  There are many natural hybrids.

They are referred to as the "'''bee orchids'''" due to the flowers of some species resemblance to the furry bodies of [[bee]]s and other [[insect]]s. Their scientific name ''Ophrys'' is the Greek word for "eyebrow", referring to the furry edges of the lips of several species.<ref name=Pridgeon>{{cite book | last=Pridgeon | first=Alec | title=The Illustrated encyclopedia of orchids | publisher=Timber Press | year=1992 | isbn=978-0-88192-267-7 | oclc=28182298 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000unse_d4e9 }}</ref>

''Ophrys'' was first mentioned in the book "Natural History" by [[Pliny the Elder]] (23-79 AD).

== Biology ==

They are [[terrestrial plant|terrestrial]] or ground [[orchid]]s found from central to South [[Europe]], North [[Africa]], [[Asia Minor]], up to the [[Caucasus Mountains]], but mostly in the [[Mediterranean region]]. They have been said to be the most important group{{clarify|reason=important how?|date=May 2024}} of European terrestrial orchids.<ref name=Dressler>{{cite book | last=Dressler | first=Robert | title=The orchids : natural history and classification | publisher=Harvard University Press | year=1990 | isbn=978-0-674-87526-5 | oclc=21301257 }}</ref>

During summer, all ''Ophrys'' orchids are dormant as underground bulbous [[tuber]]s, which serve 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 the flowering period the leaves have already started to wither.<ref name=Pridgeon/>

''Ophrys'' species, like other orchids, are dependent on [[symbiotic]] [[fungus|fungi]] at some point during their life cycle, but especially for [[germination]], which may take months or even years underground. Orchid roots contain [[Orchid mycorrhiza]], coils of fungal hyphae inside orchid root cells.<ref name="schweiger">{{Cite journal |last1=Schweiger |first1=Julienne M.-I. |last2=Bidartondo |first2=Martin I. |last3=Gebauer |first3=Gerhard |date=April 2018 |editor-last=Field |editor-first=Katie |title=Stable isotope signatures of underground seedlings reveal the organic matter gained by adult orchids from mycorrhizal fungi |url=https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13042 |journal=Functional Ecology |language=en |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=870–881 |doi=10.1111/1365-2435.13042 |bibcode=2018FuEco..32..870S |issn=0269-8463|url-access=subscription }}</ref> 

Transplanting specimens, especially wild specimens, is difficult, sometimes impossible, due to this symbiosis unless a large amount of surrounding earth is also taken with the plant.{{cn|date=May 2024}}  
All orchids are protected under [[CITES|CITES II]] and should not be removed or disturbed in habitat.

The shiny, basal [[leaf|leaves]] have a green or bluish colour. Two to twelve flowers grow on an erect [[Plant stem|stem]] with basal leaves.<ref name=Dressler/> These species are successfully cultivated by specialist growers of terrestrial orchids and are reported to be difficult to grow, being sensitive to rotting and damping off diseases if not properly subjected to a cool and dry aestivation period over the summer months with little water.<ref name=Pridgeon/>

=== Pollination ===
Orchids of the genus ''Ophrys'' use sexual deception to attract pollinators to their flowers. In sexual deception, an orchid attracts male pollinators by producing the sex pheromone of virgin female pollinators in addition to providing visual and tactile cues.<ref name=Sheistl2005>{{cite journal|author=Schiestl, F. P.|year=2005|title=On the success of a swindle: pollination by deception in orchids|journal=Naturwissenschaften|volume=92|issue=6|pages=255–264|doi=10.1007/s00114-005-0636-y|pmid=15931514|bibcode=2005NW.....92..255S|hdl=20.500.11850/32223|s2cid=24626163|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/313762/files/114_2005_Article_636.pdf|hdl-access=free}}</ref> These signals stimulate mating behaviour in the male pollinators, which then attempt copulation, called "pseudocopulation", with the orchid labellum.<ref>Schluter et al. 2009</ref> During pseudocopulation, pollen from the flower's column becomes attached to some part of the pollinator, usually the head or abdomen, and the pollinator inadvertently carries and transfers this pollen to other flowers when it is once again enticed into pseudocopulation.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Borg-Karlson | first1 = A.-K. | year = 1990 | title = Chemical and ethological studies of pollination in the genus ''Ophrys'' (Orchidaceae) | journal = Phytochemistry | volume = 29 | issue = 5| pages = 1359–1387 | doi=10.1016/0031-9422(90)80086-v| bibcode = 1990PChem..29.1359B }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Gögler, J. |author2=Stökl, J. |author3=Sramkova, A. |author4=Twele, R. |author5=Francke, W. |author6=Cozzolino, S. |author7=Cortis, P. |author8=Scrugli, A. |author9=Ayasse, M. |year=2009|title=Ménage à Trois — Two Endemic Species of Deceptive Orchids and One Pollinator Species|journal=Evolution|volume=63|issue=9|pages=2222–2234|doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00712.x|pmid=19473395 |bibcode=2009Evolu..63.2222G |doi-access= }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Stokl | first1 = J. | last2 = Schluter | first2 = P. M. | last3 = Stuessy | first3 = T. F. | last4 = Paulus | first4 = H. F. | last5 = Fraberger | first5 = R. | last6 = Erdmann | first6 = D. | last7 = Schulz | first7 = C. |display-authors=etal  | year = 2009 | title = Speciation in sexually deceptive orchids: pollinator-driven selection maintains discrete odour phenotypes in hybridizing species | journal = Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | volume = 98 | issue = 2| pages = 439–451 | doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01279.x| doi-access =  }}</ref> While the morphological cues such as the shape and texture of the labellum play a role especially at close range in inducing the pollinator mating behavior, the orchid's pheromone mimic, or allomone, has been shown to play the most important role in enticing pollinators to the flower.<ref>Schiestl 2005</ref><ref>Schluter et al. 2009</ref><ref name=Dressler/>

The [[allomone]] produced by an orchid is specific to its [[pollinator]], of which it usually only has one.<ref>Ayasse et al. 2007</ref><ref>Gogler et al. 2009</ref><ref>Schluter et al. 2009</ref> The [[allomone]] is a mixture of [[alkenes]] and [[alkanes]].<ref>Schiestl and Cozzolino 2008</ref> There are one or more active species in this mixture that account for the attraction of pollinators.<ref>Vereeken and Schiestl 2008</ref> Pollinators and orchids use the same chemical compounds in the same absolute amounts in their [[pheromones]] and [[allomones]], respectively.<ref>Schiestl 2008</ref>

Every ''Ophrys'' orchid has its own pollinator insect and is completely dependent on this species for its survival. Duped males are less likely to return and may ignore other plants of the same species. 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.<ref name=Pridgeon/>

== Species ==

The number of species recognised varies very widely between authorities. ''Flora Europaea'' in 1980 and Pedersen & Faurholdt in 2007 listed about 20 species in Europe as a whole;<ref name=TutiHeywBurgMoor80>{{Citation |year=1980 |editor-last=Tutin |editor-first=T. G. |editor2-last=Heywood |editor2-first=V.H. |editor3-last=Burges |editor3-first=N.A. |editor4-last=Moore |editor4-first=D.M. |editor5-last=Valentine |editor5-first=D.H. |editor6-last=Walters |editor6-first=S.M. |editor7-last=Webb |editor7-first=D.A. |title=Flora Europaea, Vol. 5 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-20108-7 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref><ref name=PedeFaur07>{{Citation |last1=Pedersen |first1=H.Æ. |last2=Faurholdt |first2=N. |year=2007 |title=Ophrys : The Bee Orchids of Europe |location=Richmond, Surrey, UK |publisher=Kew Publishing |isbn=978-1-84246-152-5 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref> Buttler in 1991 increased this to 53 for slightly larger geographical area;<ref name=Butt91>{{Citation |last=Buttler |first=Karl Peter |year=1991 |title=Field Guide to Orchids of Britain and Europe |location=Swindon |publisher=Crowood |isbn=978-1-85223-591-8 }}</ref> Delforge in 1995 gave a total of 130 species.<ref name=Delf95>{{Citation |last=Delforge |first=Pierre |year=1995 |title=Orchids of Britain and Europe |location=London |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-220024-0 |others=transl. Christine Grey-Wilson }}</ref> By contrast, a [[Molecular phylogenetics|molecular phylogenetic study]] in 2008 suggested that there were around 10 distinguishable groups.<ref name=DeveBateFayHawk08>{{Citation |last1=Devey |first1=D. S. |last2=Bateman |first2=R.M. |last3=Fay |first3=M.F. |last4=Hawkins |first4=J.A. |year=2008 |title=Friends or Relatives? Phylogenetics and Species Delimitation in the Controversial European Orchid Genus ''Ophrys'' |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=101 |issue=3 |pages=385–402 |name-list-style=amp |doi=10.1093/aob/mcm299|pmid=18184645 |pmc=2701817 }}</ref>

The need for further study is indicated. {{As of|2025|September}}, [[Plants of the World Online]] accepted 25 species and a much larger number of hybrids:<ref name=POWO_30162-1>{{Cite POWO|title=''Ophrys'' L..|id=30162-1|access-date=2025-09-25|mode=cs1}}</ref>
*''[[Ophrys apifera]]'' <small>Huds.</small> – bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys argolica]]'' <small>H.Fleischm.</small> – Argolian bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys atlantica]]'' <small>Munby</small> – Atlantic bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys battandieri]]'' <small>E.G.Camus</small>
*''[[Ophrys bertolonii]]'' <small>Moretti</small> – Bertoloni's bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys bombyliflora]]'' <small>Link</small> – bumblebee orchid
*''[[Ophrys bornmuelleri]]'' <small>M.Schulze</small>
*''[[Ophrys cilicica]]'' <small>Schltr.</small> – Cilician bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys cretica]]'' <small>(Vierh.) E.Nelson</small> – Cretan bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys ferrum-equinum]]'' <small>Desf.</small> – horseshoe bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys fusca]]'' <small>Link</small> – sombre bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys holosericea]]'' <small>(Burm.f.) Greuter</small>, syn. ''Ophrys fuciflora'' <small>(F.W.Schmidt) Moench</small> – late spider-orchid
*''[[Ophrys insectifera]]'' <small>L.</small> – fly orchid
*''[[Ophrys kotschyi]]'' <small>H.Fleischm. & Soó</small> – Cyprus bee-orchid, Kotschy's bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys lunulata]]'' <small>Parl.</small>
*''[[Ophrys lutea]]'' <small>Cav.</small> – yellow bee-orchid
*''Ophrys murbeckii'' <small>H.Fleischm.</small> – treated as a synonym of ''[[Ophrys battandieri|O.&nbsp;battandieri]]'' by other sources<ref name=WFO_0000257520>{{Cite WFO |genus=Ophrys |species=battandieri |authority=E.G.Camus |id=0000257520 |access-date=2025-10-03 }}</ref>
*''[[Ophrys omegaifera]]'' <small>H.Fleischm.</small> – omega bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys reinholdii]]'' <small>Spruner ex Fleischm.</small> – Reinhold's bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys schulzei]]'' <small>Bornm. & Fleischm.</small>
*''[[Ophrys scolopax]]'' <small>Cav.</small> – woodcock bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys speculum]]'' <small>Link</small> – mirror bee-orchid
*''[[Ophrys sphegodes]]'' <small>Mill.</small> – early spider-orchid
*''[[Ophrys tenthredinifera]]'' <small>Willd.</small>
*''[[Ophrys umbilicata]]'' <small>Desf.</small>

===Hybrids===
Hybrids include:<ref name=POWO_30162-1/>
*[[Ophrys × arachnitiformis|''Ophrys'' × ''arachnitiformis'']] <small>Gren. & Philippe</small> – false spider orchid (hybrid ''O.&nbsp;fuciflora'' × ''O.&nbsp;sphegodes'')
*[[Ophrys × campolati|''Ophrys'' × ''campolati'']] <small>O.Danesch & E.Danesch</small> (hybrid ''O.&nbsp;bertolonii'' × ''O.&nbsp;sphegodes'' × ''O.&nbsp;tenthredinifera'')
*[[Ophrys × dessartiana|''Ophrys'' × ''dessartiana'']] <small>P.Delforge</small><ref name=POWO_1003624-1>{{Cite POWO|title=''Ophrys'' × ''dessartiana'' P.Delforge|id=1003624-1|access-date=2025-09-25|mode=cs1}}</ref>
*[[Ophrys × flavicans|''Ophrys'' × ''flavicans'']] <small>Vis.</small> (hybrid ''O.&nbsp;bertolonii'' × ''O.&nbsp;sphegodes'')

<gallery mode=packed heights=170px>
File:Ophrys bombyliflora Mallorca 01.jpg|''Ophrys bombyliflora'' (bumblebee orchid)
File:Ophrys cretica Rhodos 05.jpg|''Ophrys cretica'' (Cretan bee-orchid)
File:Ophrys fusca Mallorca 02.jpg|''Ophrys fusca'' (sombre bee-orchid)
File:Ophrys kotschyi Zypern 064 crop.jpg|''Ophrys kotschyi'' (Cyprus bee orchid)
File:Ophrys lutea (flower).jpg|''Ophrys lutea'' (yellow bee-orchid)
File:Ophrys reinholdii Rhodos 05.jpg|''Ophrys reinholdii'' (Reinhold's bee-orchid)
File:Ophrys speculum (flower detail).jpg|''Ophrys speculum'' (mirror bee orchid)
File:Ophrys tenthredinifera (flower).jpg|''Ophrys tenthredinifera''
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Ayasse | first1 = Manfred | year = 2007 | title = Chemical mimicry in sexually deceptive orchids of the genus Ophrys | url =http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/PHY_46_2_0221-0223.pdf | journal = Phyton | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | pages = 221–223 }}
* {{cite journal | last1=Schiestl | first1=Florian P | last2=Cozzolino | first2=Salvatore | title=Evolution of sexual mimicry in the orchid subtribe orchidinae: the role of preadaptations in the attraction of male bees as pollinators | journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology | publisher=Springer Nature | volume=8 | issue=1 | date=28 January 2008 | issn=1471-2148 | pmid=18226206 | pmc=2267782 | doi=10.1186/1471-2148-8-27 | page=27 | doi-access=free | bibcode=2008BMCEE...8...27S }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Schluter | first1 = P. M. | last2 = Ruas | first2 = P. M. | last3 = Kohl | first3 = G. | last4 = Ruas | first4 = C. F. | last5 = Stuessy | first5 = T. F. | last6 = Paulus | first6 = H. F. | year = 2009 | title = Genetic patterns and pollination in Ophrys iricolor and O-mesaritica (Orchidaceae): sympatric evolution by pollinator shift | journal = Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society | volume = 159 | issue = 4| pages = 583–598 | doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00957.x| doi-access =  }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Vereecken | first1 = N. J. | last2 = Schiestl | first2 = F. P. | year = 2008 | title = The evolution of imperfect floral mimicry | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume = 105 | issue = 21| pages = 7484–7488 | doi=10.1073/pnas.0800194105| pmid = 18508972 | pmc = 2396721 | bibcode = 2008PNAS..105.7484V | doi-access = free }}

== External links ==
* {{Commons-inline|Ophrys}}
* [http://www.ophrys-genus.be/ Extensive information and beautiful slides]
* [http://www.orchidsrepbiol.de/cgi-bin/img_db/img_displayTaxon.pl?db=Ophrys Ophrys picture database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021172918/http://www.orchidsrepbiol.de/cgi-bin/img_db/img_displayTaxon.pl?db=Ophrys |date=2009-10-21 }}
* [http://www.greekorchids.gr/index.htm Orchids of Greece] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514172359/http://www.greekorchids.gr/index.htm |date=2018-05-14 }}, slide show.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q157544}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ophrys| ]]
[[Category:Orchideae genera]]
[[Category:Orchids of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of North Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Iran]]
[[Category:Flora of the Canary Islands]]