We all know that most flowers need to be pollinated. That’s why insects such as wasps, bees, and many others are important so flowers can reproduce.
How do flowers attract pollinators?
Well, according to Storey, the “color, odor, shape, size, timing, and reward (nectar or pollen)” of a flower are factors of how often insects visit the flower plants.
But have you heard about the orchid that looks like a pollinator?
It’s because these orchids look like real bumblebees. At first look, you would think that there’s a bee over the flower’s sepals but no, it’s really part of the flower.
They are known as bee orchid or ophrys apifera.
How does it look?
It has pink sepals and there’s a noticeable marking in the middle of the flower and it looks like an insect. It’s just magnificent.
Their unique look makes them more attractive to pollinators.
As these orchid looks like there’s a female bee on top of it, males would usually go to them and without them knowing, they already pollinate the flower.
Another amazing fact about bee orchids.
PsBattle: A Bee Orchid flower
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It turns out they do not rely on insect pollination as they are primarily self-pollinating.
These amazing flowers are usually found in “disturbed areas”. Examples of these are grasslands, roadsides, pastures, and meadows.
Although it’s UK native, you can also find them in many places.
One Reddit user even shared his own shot of a bee orchid. And according to him, he found it in England.
“A bee orchid I found over summer, not something I expected to see growing in England,” he wrote.
These flowers are popular on social media.
It’s probably because of its beauty and its remarkable appearance. It can truly catch our attention.
A lot of people have posted photos of bee orchids and most of them have gone viral. Many people have also expressed their amazement towards bee orchid’s beauty.
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“Aren’t they fabulous. Did you know they don’t just look and feel like a female bee but they also smell like the female bee too! How amazing is that,” one Instagram user commented on this post.
It might be difficult to find bee orchids in the US but you can try looking online. The price ranges from $13 to $19.
If you’re planning to get some of these lovely flowers, keep in mind that it’s best to cultivate them in a place with a dry summer climate or Mediterranean climate.
The flowering season of this flower is every June and July.
Like other flowers, they also need proper care.
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You also have to know how to take care of them properly without harming them. One important thing that you should remember is to avoid using a fertilizer that can trigger the growth of grasses. And we all know that these wild plants can be harmful to orchids.
Flowers are truly beautiful and they make our surroundings colorful and more beautiful. But they are not just decorations, they also have good effects on our emotions.
For sure, these bee orchids just made your day!
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