Bee Orchid
Ophrys apifera
Height up to 30cm

Locally common in dry grassland, mostly on calcareous soils in England, Wales and S Ireland; scarce or absent further N. Leaves form a basal rosette and two sheathing leaves appear up stem. Flowers, 12mm across, comprise pink sepals, green upper petals; expanded, furry lower petal maroon with pale yellow markings giving it a fanciful resemblance to a bumblebee. Borne in spikes, June­July.