Appearance
Broad asymmetric lateral sepals, dorsal sepal lowered.Extended petals, yellow or with a blue-grey or brown spotted velvety macula. Pollinated by male "Andrena" bees. This species is notable among "Ophrys" for the fact that the pollinating bees sit on the labellum facing away from the pollinaria instead of facing towards them, and thus collect the pollinaria with their abdomen.
Naming
Numerous subspecific names have been proposed, but at the present time the following are accepted:⤷ "Ophrys lutea" subsp. "aspea" Faurh. - Tunisia, Libya
⤷ "Ophrys lutea" subsp. "galilaea" Soó - from Portugal and Morocco to Syria
⤷ "Ophrys lutea" subsp. "lutea" - from Portugal and Morocco to Turkey
⤷ "Ophrys lutea" subsp. "melena" Renz - Greece, Albania
Habitat
Grows in full sun or shade on limey dry or damp soils, pastures, and thin woodland."from the French Wikipedia; technical translation of some words still needing checking"
References:
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