Ophrys insectifera

Ophrys insectifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Ophrys
Species: O. insectifera
Binomial name
Ophrys insectifera
L.
Synonyms [1]
  • Epipactis myodes (Jacq.) F.W.Schmidt
  • Malaxis myodes (Jacq.) Bernh.
  • Ophrys insectifera var. myodes L.
  • Ophrys myodes (L.) Jacq. (nom. illeg.)
  • Orchis insectifera (L.) Crantz
  • Orchis myodes (Jacq.) Bernh.

Ophrys insectifera, the fly orchid, is a species of orchid and the type species of the genus Ophrys. It is native to Europe[1] (Codes)[2] and favors sites with alkaline soil. The name arises because its inflorescence resembles a fly, although it is dependent on wasps and bees for pollination. The plants use scent to attract male wasps and bees which pollinate the flowers as they attempt to mate with the flower. The scent released by the flowers mimic female sexual pheromones.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  2. ↑ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families TDWG Geocodes" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Borg-Karlson, Anna-Karin; Inga Groth; Lennart Ågren; Bertil Kullenberg (1993). "Form-specific fragances from Ophrys insectifera L.". Chemoecology. Birkhäuser Basel. 4 (1): 39–45. doi:10.1007/BF01245895.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.