Click Here for More Images from iStock- 15% off with coupon 15FREEIMAGES 
Ophrys apifera, known as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Orchidaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. The plant grows to a height of 10-30 cm and has a rosette of leaves at the base of the stem. The stem bears a single flower, or sometimes two or three flowers. The flower is pink or purple with a yellow lip. The lip is shaped like a female bee, and the flower emits a scent that attracts male bees. When a male bee lands on the flower, it attempts to mate with the lip, which results in the transfer of pollen from the male bee to the flower.\n\nThe bee orchid is an example of a sexually deceptive orchid. These orchids mimic the appearance of other organisms, such as insects, in order to attract pollinators. In the case of the bee orchid, the flower mimics the appearance of a female bee. This attracts male bees, which attempt to mate with the flower. In the process, they transfer pollen from one flower to another, which helps to pollinate the plant.\n\nThe bee orchid is a threatened species in some parts of its range. The main threats to the plant are habitat loss and over-collection. The plant is also threatened by climate change, as it is a cold-adapted species.
Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid.
Bee orchid blooming time
DSLR full frame outdoor overcast daylight image of purple wild garlic in Germany
A macro shot of a beautiful rare hybrid orchid, outdoors
Heather in bloom in the moorland hills of Scotland's Highlands.  Please note shallow depth of field.
Wild lily in Namibia
Christmas Orchid (Calanthe Hybrid) in London, England
Photo of Curcuma alismatifolia blossom in Thailand.
Bertoloni's bee orchid (Ophrys bertolonii)
Heather in the Scottish Highlands in Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom
Similar like O. sphegoides, but sepals pink, purple or whitish: lip 9-13mm, with a small pointed, heart-shaped tip, the pattern violet or blue with a yellowish margin ā€“ tip of lip forward pointing.\nHabitat: Short turf or unimproved grassland, field borders, road sites, on calcareous soils, to 1300m.\nFlowering Season: June-July.\nDistribution: SE Britain, Belgium, France and Germany. Widespread in C & S Europe, with several subspecies.\n\nThis Picture is made during a long weekend in the South of Belgium in June 2019.
Flower of the burnt orchid, Neotinea ustulata
Wild Orchid in Spring
A closeup view of a Sawfly orchid, Ophrys tenthredinifera wild orchid, wildflower, Andalusia, Spain
close-up of pale blue inflorescence and pinnate leaves of a licorice shrub
A clump of Persicaria affinis 'Darjeeling Red',  aka Bistorta affinis 'Darjeeling Red'. Bistort or Knotweed, a herbacious perennial in the Polygonaceae family.
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha)
Healing herbs - Salvia sclarea or clary wort - Muskatellersalbei
Borago officinalis is favorite medicinal herb with edible flowers.
Violet flowers.
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) in natural habitat
One back lit fragile flower, growing Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) in wetland in spring.
The Carmel bee orchid is a terrestrial species of orchid native to Cyprus, where it flowers in early spring.
Bee flying over to a borage blossom
Rare Wild Hybrid Bee Spider Orchid, Ophrys luizetii
in London, England
Meadow of bee orchid wild flowers, ophrys apifera,
A clump of Persicaria affinis 'Donald Lowndes' aka Fleece Flower, a herbacious perennial in the Polygonaceae family.
Free Images: "bestof:ophrys apifera bee orchid ophrys wildflower flora botany plant species"
ophrys-apifera-bee-orchid-wildflower-855469.jpg
ophrys-apifera-bee-orchid-ophrys-846657.jpg
ophrys-apifera-bee-orchid-ophrys-846658.jpg
ophrys-apifera-bee-orchid-ophrys-846660.jpg
orchid-bee-orchid-wild-nature-937504.jpg
orchid-bee-orchid-flower-wild-937509.jpg
orchis-militaris-military-orchid-846628.jpg
orchid-wild-flower-wild-nature-1596825.jpg
sunflower-bee-flora-floral-plant-175533.jpg
wildflower-honey-bee-flower-flora-299651.jpg
dactylorhiza-marsh-orchid-848676.jpg
phytolacca-americana-844469.jpg
tussilago-farfara-coltsfoot-855304.jpg
scabiosa-columbaria-wildflower-flora-846609.jpg
scabiosa-columbaria-wildflower-flora-846608.jpg
scabiosa-columbaria-wildflower-flora-846606.jpg
rhinanthus-alectorolophus-846561.jpg
fallopia-dumetorum-copse-bindweed-844491.jpg
centaurea-cyanus-cornflower-839480.jpg
tussilago-farfara-coltsfoot-855290.jpg
cichorium-intybus-common-chicory-844713.jpg
scabiosa-columbaria-wildflower-flora-846607.jpg
scabiosa-columbaria-pink-mist-844683.jpg
angelica-sylvestris-wild-angelica-844678.jpg
geranium-pyrenaicum-wildflower-flora-846622.jpg
geranium-pyrenaicum-wildflower-flora-846623.jpg
cardamine-hirsuta-hairy-bittercress-846445.jpg
tussilago-farfara-coltsfoot-855279.jpg
ballota-nigra-black-horehound-848695.jpg
euphorbia-cyparissias-cypress-spurge-846508.jpg
aristolochia-clematitis-birthwort-848655.jpg
malva-neglecta-common-mallow-846651.jpg
achillea-millefolium-yarrow-844587.jpg
medicago-satigo-alfalfa-lucerne-844518.jpg
pastinaca-sativa-parsnip-flora-844439.jpg
tanacetum-vulgare-tansy-flower-844426.jpg
euphorbia-helioscopia-sun-spurge-855328.jpg
euphorbia-helioscopia-sun-spurge-855273.jpg
geranium-pratense-meadow-cranesbill-844692.jpg
tussilago-farfara-coltsfoot-855278.jpg
taraxacum-sect-ruderalia-dandelion-844658.jpg
taraxacum-sect-ruderalia-dandelion-844656.jpg
senecio-vulgaris-common-groundsel-844623.jpg
fallopia-japonica-japanese-knotweed-844620.jpg
geranium-pyrenaicum-wildflower-flora-848829.jpg
ficaria-verna-lesser-celandine-846416.jpg
cardamine-pratensis-cuckooflower-846446.jpg
ranunculus-ficaria-lesser-calendine-846452.jpg
ficaria-verna-lesser-celandine-846417.jpg
aesculus-pavia-red-buckeye-872364.jpg
echium-vulgare-viper-s-bugloss-848694.jpg
calluna-vulgaris-common-heather-ling-844467.jpg
verbascum-thapsus-great-mullein-848692.jpg
centaurea-jacea-brown-knapweed-848772.jpg
matricaria-discoidea-pineappleweed-846634.jpg
convolvulus-arvensis-field-bindweed-848659.jpg
astragalus-glycophyllos-846681.jpg
heracleum-sphondylium-eltrot-hogweed-846546.jpg
lunaria-annua-honesty-annual-honesty-846506.jpg
lepidium-draba-whitetop-hoary-cress-846560.jpg
geranium-pusillum-846605.jpg
matricaria-discoidea-pineappleweed-846635.jpg
matricaria-discoidea-pineappleweed-846636.jpg
wisteria-floribunda-japanese-wisteria-846555.jpg
eupatorium-cannabinum-hemp-agrimony-844466.jpg
daucus-carota-wild-carrot-botany-844593.jpg
phytolacca-americana-pokeweed-844591.jpg
teucrium-scorodonia-wood-sage-844470.jpg
centaurea-jacea-brown-knapweed-855545.jpg
asclepias-tuberosa-butterfly-weed-884040.jpg
daucus-carota-wild-carrot-wildflower-855449.jpg
crocus-vernus-spring-crocus-846413.jpg
heracleum-sphondylium-eltrot-hogweed-844700.jpg
trifolium-repens-white-clover-844698.jpg
potentilla-erecta-tormentil-846618.jpg
angelica-sylvestris-wild-angelica-848771.jpg
borago-officinalis-borage-starflower-848822.jpg
centaurium-erythraea-common-centaury-848779.jpg
taraxacum-sect-ruderalia-dandelion-855372.jpg
taraxacum-sect-ruderalia-dandelion-855370.jpg
taraxacum-sect-ruderalia-dandelion-850743.jpg
astragalus-glycophyllos-846682.jpg
stachys-sylvatica-hedge-woundwort-846679.jpg
crepis-biennis-rough-hawksbeard-846656.jpg
onobrychis-viciifloia-common-sainfoin-846621.jpg
cardamine-pratensis-cuckooflower-846519.jpg
trifolium-repens-white-clover-844699.jpg
picris-hieracioides-hawkweed-oxtongue-844677.jpg
salvia-pratensis-meadow-clary-844671.jpg
salvia-pratensis-meadow-clary-844670.jpg
salvia-pratensis-meadow-clary-844669.jpg
heracleum-sphondylium-eltrot-hogweed-844667.jpg
silene-dioica-red-campion-wildflower-844659.jpg
trifolium-repens-white-clover-844634.jpg
trifolium-repens-white-clover-844632.jpg
salvia-pratensis-meadow-clary-844668.jpg
calluna-vulgaris-heather-ling-844650.jpg
daucus-carota-wild-carrot-botany-844592.jpg
campanula-rapunculus-848667.jpg
vinca-minor-lesser-periwinkle-846437.jpg
Terms of Use   Search of the Day