Late spider orchid  (Ophrys fuciflora)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The rare late spider orchid produces a single upright stem and between two and ten flowers on a spike (2). The pink, purple or sometimes whitish flowers have a broad lip which earns this species its common name due to the similarity of this structure to the body of a spider (2). An area towards the centre of the lip, called the 'speculum' or 'mirror' features a purple or blue pattern in two parallel lines or in the shape of an 'X' or an 'H' (2).

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