Ophrys lutea
Yellow orchid (Ophrys lutea)
The Yellow Ophrys ( Ophrys lutea ) is a species of the genus Ragwurzen ( Ophrys ) of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). The species was described in 1793 new and valid by the Spanish botanist Antonio José Cavanilles, after it had been in 1765 by the French professor of botany Gouan Antoine ( 1733-1821 ) initially determined as Ophrys lutea var insectifera ( basionym ). This older name is now regarded as a synonym.
Features
This herbaceous perennial plant usually reaches heights of growth between 10 and 25 cm; but it has also been found specimens that were 40 cm high. At the base of the stem you will find one or two scale-like leaves. Three to six true leaves form a basal rosette.
The lower bracts are slightly longer than the ovary. The sepals are colored yellow- green. Even the bare lateral petals have this color. However, they are often slightly curled at the edges. The lip is three-lobed and black to dark - colored purple in the middle.
Location
One finds this plant species in sparse forests Garriguen on poor grassland and former cultivated land with base-rich and mostly calcareous soils.
Subspecies
Ophrys lutea subsp. lutea
The inflorescence of this subspecies includes usually one to four flowers, but sometimes there are also copies with up to 6 flowers. The sepals are 11-13 and the lateral petals 7-8 mm long. The bald lip edge is bright yellow and is wide up to 6 mm. The flowering period is to be set between February and May. One finds Ophyrs lutea subsp. lutea, especially in the meridional zones of the Mediterranean up to a height of 1800 meters above sea level.
On an inflorescence but you also find two to six times up to nine flowers. The sepals are 7-10 mm and the lateral petals 4.5 to 7.5 mm long. The lip edge is bright greenish- yellow, and between one and three millimeters wide. The lip is often pale hairy. This subspecies blooms from January to June and they are found in the Mediterranean area up to a height of 1500 meters above sea level.
Ophrys lutea subsp. melena ( Ophrys sicula )
This subspecies sees the Ophyrs lutea subsp described above. Galilee very similar. Only the lip edge is hairy bald or dark. One can observe the flowers from March to April. The distribution area extends over the southern Balkan Peninsula to southern Albania. In the mountains you meet this orchid at up to 1300 meters above sea level.