This species was first described from Spain in 1753 and is probably the most familiar of the "yellow
bee orchids" around the Mediterranean.
As may be seen from the pictures, the flowers of O. lutea can be somewhat variable in size, colour and
structure but there are nonetheless several features which are generally consistent throughout the
populations. Firstly it is the largest of the O. lutea group members and its also the only one which
hangs its flowers at an angle of 45 degrees (or less) to the stem. O. sicula and O. phryganae will often
hold their flowers at angles of more than 90 degrees.
The second feature that seems to be a reliable distinguishing characteristic is the longtitudinal basal
prominences which create both a deep central groove and a noticeable kink at the top of the labellum.
The lateral lobes are rounded and sinuses usually (but by no means always) closed or overlapping the
central lobe which creates the impression of a complete wavy yellow margin. Its flowering season is
long - running from February to June and generally a month later than O. sicula.
O. lutea has a widespread distribution that takes in Atlantic, Mediterranean and Adriatic countries
from France across to Crete, though is at its most abundant in the west of its range. The pictures
here come from Sicily where it can be an extremely common orchid but also one that co-exists with
no less than 6 other subfusca's. Its unsurprising therefore that accidents happen and several of the photograph's on this page depict plants that have probably been genetically affected.
