Ophrys insectifera, Linnaeus, 1753

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 345

1 . O. insectifera L.,

Sp. PI. 948 (1753 ) (O. muscifera Hudson ).

Plant up to 60 cm. Basal leaves linear-lanceolate, erect, acute. Spike 3- to 14-flowered, lax. Outer perianth-segments 6-8 mm, oblong-ovate, green, glabrous, the lateral patent, the median

suberect, more or less concave; inner perianth-segments 4-6 mm, linear, revolute, blackish-violet, velutinous. Labellum 9-10 x 6-7 mm, deflexed, blackish-violet or -purple, paler at apex, papillose, 3-lobed, not globose-inflated; lateral lobes patent, obtuse; middle lobe flat or concave, ovate, wider and longer than the lateral, deeply emarginate or 2-lobed, sometimes with a tooth in the sinus; speculum reniform or square, shiny, pale blue-violet. Connective obtuse. 2n=36.

© Much of Europe, but absent from the south-east and rare in the extreme south and much of the north. Au Be Br Cz Da Fe Ga Ge Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W) Su.