O. apifera was first described by Hudson from England as far back as 1762. Its name refers to the
flowers resemblance to a bee and accordingly the species has long been commonly (and not a little
affectionately) known as the Bee Orchid.
It's a widespread orchid with a distribution across temperate and Mediterranean Europe as far east as the Caucasus. In its favoured locations it can be abundant and its choice of habitat is wide, ranging from the driest chalk grassland and garrigue to wet even swampy conditions. It predominently favours
full sun positions but will tolerate (though not relish) even significant shade.
O. apifera is largely self pollinating and this autogamy seems responsible for the frequent appearance
of variant plants, some of which, although not of evolutionary significance occur on a sufficiently regular basis to have aquired formal varietal status.
O. apifera v bicolor is one of the commoner variants and occurs throughout the range of the type
species though it appears to be particularly frequent in the more western parts of the range. Its
appearance is distinctive and although general shape and configuration is normal, colouration is very
different. It completely lacks any speculum and the lip is divided into two zones of complexion, the
upper 50% to 70% is a dull greyish brown and the lower portion a deep chestnut brown.
The pictures here come from Warwickshire in England and date from the 16th of June.
