Ophrys heldreichii

Heldreich's bee orchid

Photographed Crete, 10 April 1998

Negative number 98h31a

The height of this species is 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) and the labellum 10 - 18 mm long. This is another very variable species, both in the length and pattern of the labellum pattern and in the length of the lateral lobes of the labellum, which can resemble hairy horns. It is found in Greece, Crete and the Aegean islands. It is widespread and abundant in Crete, and closely related to Ophrys scolopax, and probably a sub-species of it.