Ophrys sphegodes, commonly known as the early spider-orchid,[2] is a species of sexually-deceptive orchid native to Europe and the Middle East. It is a very varied species with many subspecies recognised.
Plant height varies with latitude. In the UK the maximum height is around 20 cm, but around the Mediterranean a height of 70 cm may be reached.[3] Flowers March–May[3] (April–May in northern latitudes). Each shoot may carry between 2 and 18 flowers. The flowers have yellow-green sepals and a velvety red-brown labellum with a distinctive silvery-blue H marking so that the flowers much resemble an arthropod and especially a spider.
Similar to Ophrys fuciflora and Ophrys apifera but flowers differ in that late spider orchid and bee orchid have much smaller petals than sepals; in early spider orchid petals and sepals are a similar size. They are also distinguished by patches of colour on the labellum; late spider orchid has a yellow point at the centre of the distal end of the labellum, while bee orchid has a red patch at the proximal end of the labellum.
Distribution and habitat
Found on unimproved alkaline meadows, woodland edges,[3] as well as slopes, banks[4] and waste land. It is widespread across most of Europe and the middle East from Britain south to Portugal and east to Iran.[1]
In Britain, it is restricted to parts of Dorset, Hampshire, Kent and Sussex and is regarded as rare although where it is found it may be in stands of many hundreds of plants. It is classified as a British Red Data Book plant. Despite its apparent vulnerability, it has very successfully colonised the chalk spoil dumping grounds created near Dover at Samphire Hoe from the excavations of the Channel Tunnel. Worldwide, the IUCN conservation status of this species is least concern as of 2018.[5]
Ecology
In the UK Ophrys sphegodes is pollinated by the miner bee Andrena nigroaenea,[6] a polylectic pollinator (i.e. one that visits many different species of flower), a bee species which requires dry sandy soils.[7] Different subspecies have evolved to attract different pollinators.[3]
Ophrys comes from the Ancient Greek for eyebrow, perhaps a reference to the velvety brown appearance of the labellum. Sphegodes comes from the Ancient Greek for wasp-like.[9][10] This species was formerly called O. aranifera, meaning spider-carrying.
The genus Ophrys is the most species-rich (i.e. diverse) genus of orchids in Europe and the Mediterranean with over 200 species, according to 'Orchids of Britain and Europe' by Pierre Delforge.
Subspecies
Many subspecific and varietal names have been proposed. At the present time (May 2014), the following are recognized, one of them apparently originating as a hybrid between two of the others:[1]
Ophrys sphegodes nothosubsp. jeanpertii (E.G.Camus) Del Prete & Conte - France, Spain, Balkans (O. sphegodes subsp. araneola × O. sphegodes subsp. sphegodes)
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. aesculapii (Renz) Soó ex J.J.Wood - Greece
^Barkham, Patrick (2018-04-05). "Climate change threatens rare British orchid that tricks bees into mating". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
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August 25, 2023
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Ophrys sphegodes commonly known as the early spider orchid 2 is a species of sexually deceptive orchid native to Europe and the Middle East It is a very varied species with many subspecies recognised Ophrys sphegodesScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsOrder AsparagalesFamily OrchidaceaeSubfamily OrchidoideaeGenus OphrysSpecies O sphegodesBinomial nameOphrys sphegodesMill Synonyms 1 List Arachnites aranifera Huds Bubani 1901 Myodium araniferum Huds Salisb 1812 Ophrys araneola Rchb 1831 Ophrys aranifera f latipetala Chaub ex St Amans 1821 Ophrys aranifera f oodicheila Renz 1928 Ophrys aranifera f peralba G Keller 1912 Ophrys aranifera f pseudomuscifera Ruppert 1917 Ophrys aranifera f purpurea A Camus 1929 Ophrys aranifera f semilunaris W Zimm 1917 Ophrys aranifera Huds 1778 Ophrys aranifera ssp litigiosa E G Camus P Fourn Ophrys aranifera ssp araneola Rchb K Richt 1890 Ophrys aranifera subvar bavarica Soo 1927 Ophrys aranifera var aurantiaca Beauverd 1929 Ophrys aranifera var euchlora J Murray 1905 Ophrys aranifera var flavescens M Schulze 1894 Ophrys aranifera var quadriloba Rchb f 1851 Ophrys aranifera var rotulata Beck 1890 Ophrys aranifera var subfucifera Rchb f 1851 Ophrys argensonensis J C Guerin amp A Merlet 1998 Ophrys argentaria Devillers Tersch amp Devillers 1991 Ophrys classica Devillers Tersch amp Devillers 2000 Ophrys cretensis H Baumann amp Kunkele Paulus 1988 Ophrys crucigera Jacq 1784 Ophrys delmeziana P Delforge 1989 Ophrys exaltata ssp mateolana Medagli amp al Paulus amp Gack 1999 Ophrys fuchsii W Zimm 1917 Ophrys fucifera Sm 1830 Ophrys fuciflora Curtis 1778 Ophrys galeopsidea Lag ex Colmeiro 1889 Ophrys garganica O Danesch amp E Danesch 1975 Ophrys garganica ssp passionis Sennen ex Devillers Tersch amp Devillers Paulus amp Gack 1999 Ophrys garganica ssp sipontensis R Lorenz amp Gembardt Del Prete 1984 Ophrys gortynia H Baumann amp Kunkele Paulus 1988 Ophrys hebes Kalopissis E Willing amp B Willing 1980 Ophrys illyrica S Hertel amp K Hertel 2002 Ophrys incubacea Bianca Ophrys incubacea ssp garganica O Danesch amp E Danesch Galesi 2004 Ophrys insectifera var arachnites L 1753 Ophrys insectifera var pallescens Moggr 1869 Ophrys insectifera var rubescens Moggr 1869 Ophrys litigiosa E G Camus 1900 Ophrys majellensis Helga Daiss amp Herm Daiss P Delforge 1998 Ophrys massiliensis Viglione amp Vela 1999 Ophrys mateolana Medagli amp al 1991 Ophrys melitensis Salk Devillers Tersch amp Devillers 1994 Ophrys montenegrina H Baumann amp Kunkele Devillers Tersch amp Devillers 1991 Ophrys negadensis G Thiele amp W Thiele 2001 Ophrys passionis Sennen ex Devillers Tersch amp Devillers 1994 Ophrys passionis ssp majellensis Helga Daiss amp Herm Daiss Romolini amp Soca 2000 Ophrys provincialis H Baumann amp Kunkele Paulus 1988 Ophrys quadriloba Rchb f E G Camus 1908 Ophrys riojana C E Hermos J Eur Orch 31 881 1999 Ophrys ruppertii A Fuchs 1917 Ophrys sipontensis R Lorenz amp Gembardt 1987 Ophrys sphegodes f latipetala Chaub ex St Amans Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes f pseudomuscifera Ruppert Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes f subfucifera Rchb f Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus aurantiaca Beauverd Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus bavarica Soo Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus euchlora J Murray Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus flavescens M Schulze Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus pallescens Moggr Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus peralba G Keller Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus purpurea A Camus Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus rotulata Beck Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus rubescens Moggr Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes lus semilunaris W Zimm Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes ssp araneola Rchb M Lainz 1983 Ophrys sphegodes ssp cretensis H Baumann amp Kunkele 1986 Ophrys sphegodes ssp garganica E Nelson 1962 Ophrys sphegodes ssp gortynia H Baumann amp Kunkele 1986 Ophrys sphegodes ssp hebes Kalopissis 1975 Ophrys sphegodes ssp litigiosa E G Camus Bech 1925 Ophrys sphegodes ssp majellensis Helga Daiss amp Herm Daiss 1997 Ophrys sphegodes ssp melitensis Salk 1992 Ophrys sphegodes ssp montenegrina H Baumann amp Kunkele 1988 Ophrys sphegodes ssp oodicheila Renz Riech 2004 Ophrys sphegodes ssp passionis Sennen ex Devillers Tersch amp Devillers Sanz amp Nuet 1995 Ophrys sphegodes ssp provincialis H Baumann amp Kunkele 1988 Ophrys sphegodes ssp tommasinii Vis Soo 1971 Ophrys sphegodes var argentaria Devillers Tersch amp Devillers Faurh 2002 Ophrys sphegodes var garganicoides Balayer 1986 Ophrys sphegodes var gigantea A Fuchs 1917 Ophrys sphegodes var subaesculapiana Balayer 1986 Ophrys sphegodes var subspruneriana Balayer 1986 Ophrys sphegodes var subtommasiniana Balayer 1986 Ophrys tarquinia P Delforge 2000 Ophrys tommasinii ssp araneola Rchb Soo 1980 Ophrys tommasinii ssp litigiosa E G Camus Soo 1973 Ophrys tommasinii Vis 1851 Ophrys vindelica W Zimm ex A Fuchs 1928 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Taxonomy 5 Subspecies 6 Photo gallery 7 ReferencesDescription EditPlant height varies with latitude In the UK the maximum height is around 20 cm but around the Mediterranean a height of 70 cm may be reached 3 Flowers March May 3 April May in northern latitudes Each shoot may carry between 2 and 18 flowers The flowers have yellow green sepals and a velvety red brown labellum with a distinctive silvery blue H marking so that the flowers much resemble an arthropod and especially a spider Similar to Ophrys fuciflora and Ophrys apifera but flowers differ in that late spider orchid and bee orchid have much smaller petals than sepals in early spider orchid petals and sepals are a similar size They are also distinguished by patches of colour on the labellum late spider orchid has a yellow point at the centre of the distal end of the labellum while bee orchid has a red patch at the proximal end of the labellum Distribution and habitat EditFound on unimproved alkaline meadows woodland edges 3 as well as slopes banks 4 and waste land It is widespread across most of Europe and the middle East from Britain south to Portugal and east to Iran 1 In Britain it is restricted to parts of Dorset Hampshire Kent and Sussex and is regarded as rare although where it is found it may be in stands of many hundreds of plants It is classified as a British Red Data Book plant Despite its apparent vulnerability it has very successfully colonised the chalk spoil dumping grounds created near Dover at Samphire Hoe from the excavations of the Channel Tunnel Worldwide the IUCN conservation status of this species is least concern as of 2018 5 Ecology EditIn the UK Ophrys sphegodes is pollinated by the miner bee Andrena nigroaenea 6 a polylectic pollinator i e one that visits many different species of flower a bee species which requires dry sandy soils 7 Different subspecies have evolved to attract different pollinators 3 This orchid species is able to form symbiotic relationships with a range of species of mycorrhizal fungi 8 Taxonomy EditOphrys comes from the Ancient Greek for eyebrow perhaps a reference to the velvety brown appearance of the labellum Sphegodes comes from the Ancient Greek for wasp like 9 10 This species was formerly called O aranifera meaning spider carrying The genus Ophrys is the most species rich i e diverse genus of orchids in Europe and the Mediterranean with over 200 species according to Orchids of Britain and Europe by Pierre Delforge Subspecies EditMany subspecific and varietal names have been proposed At the present time May 2014 the following are recognized one of them apparently originating as a hybrid between two of the others 1 Ophrys sphegodes nothosubsp jeanpertii E G Camus Del Prete amp Conte France Spain Balkans O sphegodessubsp araneola O sphegodessubsp sphegodes Ophrys sphegodes subsp aesculapii Renz Soo ex J J Wood Greece Ophrys sphegodes subsp araneola Rchb M Lainz Germany Switzerland France Spain Italy Yugoslavia Ophrys sphegodes subsp atrata Rchb f A Bolos from Portugal to Serbia Ophrys sphegodes subsp aveyronensis J J Wood France Spain Ophrys sphegodes subsp catalcana Kreutz European Turkey Ophrys sphegodes subsp cretensis H Baumann amp Kunkele Crete and other Greek islands Ophrys sphegodes subsp epirotica Renz Golz amp H R Reinhard Albania Greece Ophrys sphegodes subsp gortynia H Baumann amp Kunkele Crete and other Greek islands Ophrys sphegodes subsp helenae Renz Soo amp D M Moore Albania Greece Ophrys sphegodes subsp mammosa Desf Soo ex E Nelson from the Balkans to Turkmenistan Ophrys sphegodes subsp melitensis Nyman E Nelson the Maltese islands Ophrys sphegodes subsp passionis Sennen Sanz amp Nuet France Spain Sardinia Sicily mainland Italy Ophrys sphegodes subsp sipontensis R Lorenz amp Gembardt H A Pedersen amp Faurh Puglia Ophrys sphegodes subsp sphegodes from Britain and Spain to Hungary and the Balkans Ophrys sphegodes subsp spruneri Nyman E Nelson Crete and other Greek islandsPhoto gallery Edit References Edit a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families BSBI List 2007 xls Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Archived from the original xls on 2015 06 26 Retrieved 2014 10 17 a b c d First Nature Ophrys sphegodes Plants for a Future Ophrys sphegodes European Environment Agency Ophrys sphegodes Mill Barkham Patrick 2018 04 05 Climate change threatens rare British orchid that tricks bees into mating The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2023 04 21 NatureSpot Andrena nigroaenea www naturespot org uk Retrieved 2023 04 21 Nature Spot Andrena nigroaenea Jacquemyn Hans Brys Rein Waud Michael Busschaert Pieter Lievens Bart May 2015 Mycorrhizal networks and coexistence in species rich orchid communities New Phytologist 206 3 1127 1134 doi 10 1111 nph 13281 ISSN 0028 646X The Orchid Hunter A Young Botanist s Search for Happiness The Names of Plants Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ophrys sphegodes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ophrys sphegodes amp oldid 1151052642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
