Bertoloni's bee orchid
Ophrys bertolonii
Family: Orchidaceae
What it is like
A ground orchid. It can be 45 cm high and keeps growing from year to year. The leaves at the base are sword shaped and pointed. They are bluish-green. The leaves on the stem are smaller. The flower spike has 3-8 flowers. The sepals are pink or purple with 3 green veins. The petals are pink or purple with a hairy edge. The lip is 10-15 mm long and velvety black. It has a small greenish tip. The speculum is shield shaped.
There are about 140 Ophrys species.
Where it is found
It grows in dry stony and grassy places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Root