Yellow bee orchid, Yellow ophrys
Ophrys lutea
Family: Orchidaceae
What it is like
A low ground orchid. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30 cm tall. It can be only 5-6 cm tall. The leaves near the base are oval and pointed. The leaves on the stem are more narrow. The flower spike has 2-7 flowers. The sepals are green and the petals can be green or yellow. The petals are about half the length of the sepals. The lip is 12-18 mm long. It has 3 lobes and a broad flat yellow edge.
There are about 140 Ophrys species.
Where it is found
It grows in grassy and rocky places. In the Mediterranean it can grow from the lowlands to the mountains.
Countries/locations it is found in
Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Root, bulb
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Sari salep